Italy has witnessed a significant decline in its tree cover over the past two decades, with recent incidents further exacerbating the situation. The latest fire alert from Basilicata highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the country's forests. Since 2001, Italy has experienced a net loss of 30,194.81 hectares of tree cover, which represents a 0.30% decrease from the stable tree cover extent of 9,262,565.30 hectares.
The primary drivers of tree cover loss have been identified as forestry activities, contributing to the majority of the decline, followed by shifting agriculture, urbanization, and wildfires. In 2022 alone, forestry was responsible for a staggering 94.18% of the total tree cover loss, while shifting agriculture accounted for 2.94%, urbanization 0.06%, and wildfires 0.24%.
Explore country profileThis trend of tree cover loss not only impacts the natural beauty and biodiversity of Italy but also has significant implications for carbon emissions and the environment. The loss of tree cover has resulted in millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, with the highest recorded in 2019 at over 25 million metric tons. The data underscores the urgent need for strategies to mitigate tree cover loss and protect Italy's remaining forests for future generations.
