Argentina has experienced a significant tree cover loss over the past two decades, with the latest incident being a fire alert in Chaco Province on August 10, 2024. The country's tree cover extent spans approximately 39 million hectares, which is about 14% of its total land area. However, the net change in tree cover has been negative, with a 10.45% decrease, indicating a loss of over 4.66 million hectares and a gain of just over 1.10 million hectares.
Shifting agriculture and forestry have been the primary drivers of this loss, contributing to nearly 40% and 22% of the total deforestation, respectively. Wildfires and urbanization also played a role but to a lesser extent. The cumulative impact of these factors has not only reduced forested areas but has also led to significant emissions of CO2, with the total gross emissions reaching over 79 million metric tons in 2022 alone.
Explore country profileThe recent fire incident in Chaco Province adds to the ongoing challenge of preserving Argentina's tree cover. While the incident count is currently at one, the historical trend suggests a persistent issue that requires attention to mitigate further tree cover loss and its associated impacts on the environment and biodiversity.
