Madagascar has been grappling with a significant decline in tree cover over the past two decades. The latest incident report from Atsimo-Atsinanana highlights a fire alert, underscoring the ongoing environmental challenges the country faces. With a total land area of over 59 million hectares, Madagascar's tree cover extent stands at approximately 17 million hectares. However, the island nation has experienced a net loss in tree cover of over 1 million hectares, which equates to a concerning 5.89% decrease.
Shifting agriculture remains the primary driver of tree cover loss, accounting for the vast majority of the decline. The impact of wildfires, while comparatively smaller, still contributes to the overall environmental degradation. The data reveals a worrying trend of habitat destruction that not only threatens biodiversity but also exacerbates climate change due to the significant amount of gross emissions associated with these losses.
Explore country profileAs Madagascar continues to lose its tree cover, the implications for its unique ecosystems and global biodiversity are profound. The recent fire incident is a stark reminder of the persistent environmental issues that require attention and action to preserve the natural heritage of this biologically rich country.
