Brazil Battles Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Shifting Agriculture Impact

Brazil Battles Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Shifting Agriculture Impact

Brazil, known for its vast and diverse ecosystems, is grappling with a concerning trend of tree cover loss. Over the past two decades, the country has experienced a net decrease in tree cover of approximately 5.93%, which translates to a loss of over 36 million hectares. This decline is not uniform across the board; shifting agriculture has been identified as the primary driver, responsible for a substantial portion of the loss.

Shifting agriculture alone has led to the loss of millions of hectares of tree cover, with the highest recorded loss in 2016, where it accounted for nearly half of the total loss. Forestry activities also contribute significantly to the trend, followed by urbanization, which, while representing a smaller fraction, still presents a notable impact on the environment.