Tanzania has been grappling with a significant decline in tree cover over the past two decades. Recent data indicates that the country has experienced a net loss of 3.80 million hectares, which constitutes an 11.30% decrease in tree cover. The primary driver of this loss is shifting agriculture, responsible for the vast majority of the decline. Other contributing factors include forestry practices, urbanization, and wildfires, although their impact is considerably less.
The Ruvuma Region has been the latest to report an incident, with a fire alert issued on September 13, 2024. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges Tanzania faces in managing its natural resources. While the country has seen some gains in tree cover, amounting to 557,235 hectares, these have been overshadowed by the losses and disturbances, which have had a long-term impact on the environment and local communities.
Explore country profileThe trend over the years has been worrying, with the highest tree cover loss recorded in 2014, amounting to nearly 200,000 hectares. The loss has been somewhat variable but shows no sign of a significant reversal. This situation calls for a broader discussion on sustainable land management and conservation strategies to protect Tanzania's remaining forests and reverse the negative trend.
