Central African Republic Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss

Central African Republic Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss

In the Central African Republic, a concerning trend of tree cover loss has been escalating, with recent data showing a significant impact on the country's forests. Over the past two decades, the nation has experienced a net loss in tree cover of approximately 1.32%, which translates to a loss of over 1.20 million hectares, despite a gain of about 482,000 hectares.

The primary driver of this loss has been identified as shifting agriculture, accounting for the vast majority of tree cover reduction. Forestry activities, while also contributing to the loss, represent a much smaller fraction. Notably, incidents of wildfires have been minimal, with the latest alert recorded in the Nord-Ubangi region, indicating a single event.