Zambia Faces Rising Incidents: Tree Cover Declines by Over 7% in Recent Years

Zambia Faces Rising Incidents: Tree Cover Declines by Over 7% in Recent Years

Zambia is grappling with a significant environmental challenge as recent data reveals a 7.30% decline in tree cover over the years. The latest incident, recorded on September 10, 2026, in Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, underscores the urgency of addressing these environmental issues. The country, spanning over 75 million hectares, has seen a net loss of approximately 2.87 million hectares of tree cover. Shifting agriculture has been the primary driver of this loss, contributing to over 80% of the total tree cover decline. Wildfires, urbanization, and forestry activities also play roles, albeit to a lesser extent. The situation calls for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts and encourages broader discussions on sustainable practices to mitigate further loss.