Canada's vast forests, spanning over 983 million hectares, with a tree cover of approximately 418 million hectares, are facing significant challenges due to various factors leading to tree cover loss. Over the years, the country has experienced a net change in tree cover that reflects a 2.76% decrease, with a loss of over 25 million hectares and a gain of nearly 17 million hectares. The disturbances have led to a net loss of approximately 8.20 million hectares.
The data reveals that forestry activities and wildfires are the primary drivers of tree cover loss. Wildfires, in particular, have been a persistent threat, accounting for a substantial portion of the loss each year. The latest incident on August 12, 2024, in the Northwest Territories, adds to the growing list of fire alerts that have plagued the country.
Explore country profileThe impact of these losses is not only ecological but also significant in terms of carbon emissions, with billions of milligrams of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere. The interplay between natural disturbances and human activities continues to shape the landscape of Canada's forests, posing challenges for conservation and sustainable management.
