Chile has been facing a significant challenge with tree cover loss over the years, which has been compounded by incidents of wildfires. The latest incident reported on December 2, 2024, in the O'Higgins region, adds to the growing concern over the country's environmental health. Over the past two decades, Chile has experienced a fluctuating pattern of tree cover loss, with the highest recorded in 2017 at over 214,000 hectares. Notably, the forestry sector has been the predominant driver, contributing to the vast majority of this loss.
The impact on Chile's tree cover is evident when considering that the country's total area spans over 75 million hectares, with approximately 19 million hectares covered by trees. The net change in tree cover has been negative, with a loss of around 746,000 hectares and a gain of approximately 732,000 hectares, resulting in a net loss of about 14,350 hectares. This translates to a slight decrease in tree cover by roughly 0.08%.
Explore country profileWildfires, while not the leading cause of tree cover loss, have nonetheless been a persistent issue, with the latest data indicating a single incident in the O'Higgins region. The cumulative effect of these factors poses a significant threat to Chile's biodiversity and carbon sequestration capabilities, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to address these environmental challenges.
