Russia, a country with an extensive forested area of over 761 million hectares, has been facing significant tree cover dynamics over the years. Recent data indicates a worrying trend of tree cover loss, primarily driven by wildfires and forestry activities. In the past two decades, the country has experienced a net change in tree cover characterized by a slight decrease of 0.02%, with a net loss of approximately 176,089 hectares.
Wildfires have been the most significant driver of tree cover loss, with millions of hectares affected annually. For instance, in 2022 alone, wildfires resulted in the loss of over 3.10 million hectares of tree cover, contributing to approximately 51% of the total CO2 emissions from tree cover loss for that year. Forestry activities also play a substantial role, accounting for around 26% of the tree cover loss in the same period.
Explore country profileThe latest incident report from Orenburg Oblast, Russia, recorded on October 1, 2024, adds to the ongoing challenges, with a new fire alert signaling the persistent risk of wildfires in the region. The cumulative effect of these incidents over time has led to a notable disturbance in Russia's forest ecosystems, emphasizing the need for sustainable forest management and wildfire mitigation strategies.
