The US state of Alabama lost 225,000 acres of forest between 2000-2008, a casualty of urban growth, reports The Birmingham News.
According to a new report by the Alabama Forestry Commission, this is only the second time since the Great Depression that the state suffered a net loss of forest
The Forestry Commission is hoping its report will serve as a wake-up call. “We need to make sure urban growth and development is done in a way that sustains our forests,” said a spokesperson. “This affects everyone, environmentally, economically and socially.”
Alabama has 22.7 million acres of forest; only Georgia, Oregon and Alaska have more forest cover.
