Madagascar has been grappling with a significant decline in tree cover over the past two decades, with the latest incident report indicating a fire alert in the Sava region. The island nation, known for its unique biodiversity, has seen a net change in tree cover that reflects a 5.89% decrease. Shifting agriculture remains the predominant driver of tree cover loss, accounting for the vast majority of the hectares lost annually. The impact of wildfires, while comparatively smaller, still contributes to the overall environmental degradation. The year 2022 alone witnessed a loss of over 256,000 hectares, with shifting agriculture responsible for approximately 96.90% of this loss. The trend of tree cover loss not only threatens the ecological balance but also poses a challenge to the carbon sequestration capacity of the region. The recent fire alert adds to the urgency of addressing these environmental concerns.
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