Brazil has been facing a significant challenge with its tree cover loss over the years. The country, with an area of over 850 million hectares, has a tree cover extent of approximately 519 million hectares. However, the trend of deforestation has been alarming, with a net loss of 28 million hectares, which is a 5.93% decrease from the stable tree cover. The main drivers of this loss have been identified as shifting agriculture, forestry, wildfires, and urbanization.
Shifting agriculture alone accounts for a substantial portion of the tree cover loss, with millions of hectares affected annually. Forestry activities and urbanization also contribute significantly to the decline. Wildfires, although responsible for a smaller area of loss, remain a persistent issue, as evidenced by the latest fire incident in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Explore country profileThe cumulative impact of these factors has not only affected the tree cover but also led to considerable CO2 emissions. Brazil's situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable land management practices and the importance of addressing the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation.
