Venezuela, a country with an area spanning over 91 million hectares, has been facing a significant challenge in terms of tree cover loss. With a tree cover extent of approximately 56.50 million hectares, the country has experienced a net change in tree cover characterized by a 2.49% decrease. This loss is primarily attributed to shifting agriculture, which has been the leading driver, followed by incidents such as wildfires and urbanization.
Over the years, the data reveals a fluctuating trend in tree cover loss, with the highest recorded in 2016 at over 207,000 hectares. Shifting agriculture alone accounted for a staggering 75% of the total tree cover loss that year. Wildfires, although less significant in comparison, have also contributed to the country's environmental woes, with thousands of hectares lost annually.
Explore country profileThe latest incident data from 2025 indicates a fire alert in the Apure region, a reminder of the ongoing battle against environmental degradation. While the number of incidents may vary year by year, the overarching trend points towards a need for sustainable land management practices to curb the loss and protect Venezuela's rich biodiversity.
