Russia, a country with a vast expanse of forests covering over 761 million hectares, has been facing a significant loss of tree cover over the years. Recent data indicates that wildfires, along with forestry practices, are the primary drivers of tree cover loss in the nation. In the year 2022 alone, Russia experienced a loss of 4.29 million hectares of tree cover, with wildfires accounting for a staggering 73% of this loss. The impact of these incidents is profound, as they not only reduce the extent of forests but also contribute to carbon emissions, with over 737 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent released in that year due to tree cover loss.
The trend over the past two decades shows a worrying escalation in the rate of tree cover loss. Wildfires have consistently been the leading cause, highlighting the vulnerability of Russia's forests to such natural disasters. The data also reveals a slight decline in the net tree cover, with a net change of approximately -176,000 hectares, indicating that the gains in tree cover are not keeping pace with the losses.
Explore country profileThe latest incident in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug underscores the ongoing challenge Russia faces in managing and protecting its forests. With only one fire alert reported on August 1, 2024, the focus remains on the broader implications of forest management and the need for sustainable practices to mitigate future losses.
