South Africa has experienced a persistent decrease in tree cover over the past two decades. The latest incident, a fire alert in the KwaZulu-Natal region on November 3, 2024, adds to the ongoing environmental concern. The country's tree cover extent spans approximately 5.98 million hectares, which has faced a net loss of about 141,776 hectares, marking a negative change of approximately 1.86%.
The primary drivers of tree cover loss include shifting agriculture, forestry activities, wildfires, and urbanization. Shifting agriculture and forestry alone have contributed significantly to the loss, with forestry accounting for the largest portion. The cumulative effect of these drivers has not only reduced the tree cover but also resulted in substantial CO2 emissions.
Explore country profileWhile there has been some gain in tree cover, amounting to roughly 388,240 hectares, it has not been sufficient to counterbalance the losses. The disturbances to tree cover have been extensive, with over 1.28 million hectares affected. These figures underscore the challenges facing South Africa's natural environment and highlight the need for concerted efforts to manage and protect its vital tree cover.
