South Africa's Tree Cover Faces Decline as New Fire Incident Reported in KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa's Tree Cover Faces Decline as New Fire Incident Reported in KwaZulu-Natal

In a recent development, South Africa has reported a new fire incident in the KwaZulu-Natal region, adding to the country's environmental challenges. Over the years, South Africa has experienced significant changes in its tree cover. With an area spanning over 121 million hectares, the country's tree cover extent stands at approximately 5.98 million hectares. However, the nation has witnessed a net loss in tree cover of about 141,776 hectares, which is a 1.86% decrease from the stable tree cover.

The history of tree cover loss in South Africa is marked by various drivers, with forestry and shifting agriculture being the most significant contributors. Forestry alone has accounted for a substantial portion of the tree cover loss, while shifting agriculture has also played a notable role. Urbanization and wildfires have contributed to the loss as well, albeit to a lesser extent.