South Africa's rich biodiversity is under threat, as recent data reveals a consistent decline in tree cover over the past two decades. The country's tree cover extent, which stands at approximately 5.98 million hectares, has experienced a net loss of 141,776 hectares, marking a -1.86% change. Shifting agriculture and forestry activities have been the primary drivers of this loss, contributing significantly to the total deforestation.
The impact of these activities is evident in the numbers. Shifting agriculture alone has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of hectares each year, with forestry not far behind. Urbanization, while contributing to a lesser extent, still plays a role in the ongoing reduction of tree cover. Wildfires, although responsible for a smaller portion of the tree cover loss, remain a concern, as highlighted by the latest incident in Limpopo, where a fire alert was recently recorded.
Explore country profileThe loss of tree cover not only affects biodiversity and wildlife habitats but also has broader implications for climate change and carbon emissions. The data indicates a disturbing trend that, if not addressed, could lead to further environmental degradation and loss of natural resources in South Africa.
