In a concerning environmental update, Brazil has reported a new fire incident in the State of Pará, marking a continuation of the country's battle against forest degradation. Over the past two decades, Brazil has seen a significant reduction in tree cover, with an alarming net loss of 28.07 million hectares, which equates to a 5.93% decrease in tree cover. The primary drivers of this deforestation have been shifting agriculture, responsible for the highest percentage of tree cover loss, followed by forestry activities, urbanization, and wildfires.
The data reveals a disturbing trend of escalating tree cover loss, with the highest recorded in 2016 at over 5.37 million hectares. Shifting agriculture alone accounted for nearly half of the total loss that year. Although there has been a slight decrease in the rate of loss in subsequent years, the numbers remain substantial, with over 3.30 million hectares lost in 2022.
Explore country profileThe impact on Brazil's rich biodiversity and global climate cannot be overstated. The loss of forest cover not only threatens the habitat of countless species but also contributes significantly to carbon emissions, further exacerbating climate change. The latest incident in Pará is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges Brazil faces in protecting its critical forest ecosystems.
