Chile has recently faced a fire incident in the Maule region, highlighting the ongoing environmental challenges the country confronts. Over the past two decades, Chile has experienced a net loss in tree cover, with a total of 746,166 hectares lost and a slightly lower gain of 731,816 hectares. This represents a net change of -14,350 hectares, a subtle yet significant indicator of environmental disturbance.
Forestry activities have been the predominant driver of tree cover loss, contributing to an overwhelming majority of the lost hectares and associated CO2 emissions. Shifting agriculture and urbanization also play roles, though to a lesser extent. Notably, wildfires, while often the most visible and dramatic cause of tree loss, have accounted for a relatively small portion of the total change.
Explore country profileThe latest incident in Maule serves as a reminder of the persistent threat of wildfires in the region. However, the data suggests that the broader issue of tree cover loss is multifaceted, with human activities such as forestry and agriculture being the primary forces behind the changes observed in Chile's landscape.
