A recent report has identified a fire incident in the Bizerte Governorate of Tunisia, marking a continued concern for the nation's environmental health. Over the years, Tunisia has faced significant tree cover loss due to shifting agriculture and forestry activities. The country, with an area of over 15 million hectares, has a tree cover extent of approximately 224,000 hectares. However, the net change in tree cover indicates a loss of nearly 15,000 hectares, with a slight gain of over 10,000 hectares, leading to a net loss of around 4,800 hectares, which translates to a 1.73% decrease.
The historical data reveals a fluctuating pattern of tree cover loss, with the highest recorded loss in 2017 at over 8,500 hectares. Shifting agriculture has been the predominant driver, followed by forestry, contributing to the majority of the tree cover loss and associated CO2 emissions. The absence of wildfires and urbanization as reported drivers in the data suggests a focus on agricultural practices and forestry management as key areas for addressing tree cover loss.
Explore country profileThe single fire incident, while seemingly minor with just one count, is a reminder of the potential risks that wildfires pose to the remaining tree cover. The incident underscores the importance of vigilant environmental monitoring and management to safeguard Tunisia's natural resources.
