Peru has been facing significant environmental challenges, as recent data reveals a persistent loss of tree cover in the country. Over the past two decades, Peru has experienced a net loss of approximately 762,198 hectares of tree cover, which constitutes around a 0.97% decrease from its original tree cover extent. Shifting agriculture remains the primary driver of this loss, contributing to over 80% of the total deforestation.
The latest incident from September 12, 2024, indicates a fire alert in the Madre de Dios region, a biodiverse area known for its vast rainforests. This single incident reflects a broader trend of environmental stress in the country. While the net change in tree cover shows a slight gain of 430,186 hectares, this is overshadowed by the larger scale of loss and disturbance, which amounts to over 3 million hectares.
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