Lesotho has recently experienced a fire incident in the Thaba-Tseka region, prompting a closer look at the country's environmental data. With an area of over 3 million hectares, Lesotho's tree cover extent is a mere 6051.94 hectares, which is roughly 0.20% of the total land area. Over the years, the country has seen a fluctuating trend in tree cover loss, with a notable peak in 2016 of over 15 hectares lost. Despite these losses, there has been a net gain in tree cover of approximately 2758 hectares, indicating some recovery.
The drivers of tree cover loss have varied, with forestry activities contributing to emissions and loss in certain years. However, the data shows a significant portion of the loss unattributed to specific drivers, leaving room for speculation on other contributing factors. The latest fire incident, though isolated, is a stark reminder of the potential threats to Lesotho's limited tree cover.
Explore country profileThe country's environmental challenges are underscored by the fact that the tree cover extent has seen a net change of only 0.66% over the years. This highlights the delicate balance between loss and gain, and the importance of monitoring and protecting the existing tree cover to ensure environmental sustainability in Lesotho.
