The country's tree cover extent, which stands at approximately 5,983,115 hectares, has been under pressure from various factors. Shifting agriculture has led to a loss of 22,526 hectares in 2015 alone, which was the highest recorded loss from this driver in the provided data. Forestry activities have consistently been a leading cause of tree cover loss, with 53,615 hectares affected in 2016, marking one of the peak years.
Wildfires, although contributing less to the total loss compared to other drivers, remain a persistent threat, as evidenced by the recent incident in Eastern Cape. Urbanization has also contributed to the reduction of tree cover, albeit to a lesser extent than other factors.
The net change in tree cover reflects the balance between loss and gain, with the country experiencing a net negative change over the years. The data underscores the need for a broader discussion on sustainable land management and conservation efforts to mitigate the ongoing loss of tree cover in South Africa.
