Zambia has experienced a significant loss in tree cover over the past two decades, with a net decline of 7.31%. The latest incident data reveals a fire alert in Muchinga Province, reflecting the ongoing environmental challenges the country faces. The total area of tree cover in Zambia is approximately 24 million hectares, which has been subject to various pressures resulting in loss. Shifting agriculture has been the primary driver, contributing to the vast majority of tree cover loss. Other factors include urbanization and wildfires, with the latter being responsible for a smaller yet notable portion of the loss.
The impact of these losses is substantial, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions released into the atmosphere. The data indicates a trend of increasing tree cover loss over the years, with the highest recorded in 2021 at over 200,000 hectares. Although there has been some tree cover gain, it is minimal compared to the losses, highlighting the need for increased attention to the country's forest management and conservation practices.
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