South Africa faces environmental challenges as recent data indicates a significant loss of tree cover over the past two decades. The country's tree cover extent, which spans over 5.98 million hectares, has seen a net decrease of approximately 1.86%. Notably, the forestry sector has been the predominant driver of tree cover loss, followed by shifting agriculture practices. In the latest incident, a wildfire alert has been reported in the Mpumalanga region, adding to the country's environmental concerns.
The impact of these losses is profound, considering the vast area of South Africa's landscape, which covers over 121 million hectares. The net change in tree cover reveals a loss of over 530,000 hectares, partially offset by a gain of approximately 388,000 hectares. Disturbances have affected over 1.28 million hectares, underscoring the need for attention to the country's forest management and environmental protection strategies.
Explore country profileWhile the recent wildfire incident in Mpumalanga is isolated, with just one alert reported, it is a stark reminder of the persistent threat wildfires pose to South Africa's natural resources. The cumulative effect of these incidents and the ongoing deforestation trends highlight the urgency for sustainable practices to preserve the country's rich biodiversity and mitigate environmental degradation.
