Mozambique has faced a significant challenge in managing its tree cover, with a net loss of over 4.30 million hectares, marking a 10.21% decrease in its tree cover extent. This loss is primarily driven by shifting agriculture, which accounts for the vast majority of the tree cover loss over the years. The impact of this loss is evident in the country's carbon emissions, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere, exacerbating global climate change concerns.
The latest incident in Cabo Delgado Province, where a fire alert was recorded on November 13, 2024, adds to the ongoing environmental pressures. Although the number of incidents is relatively small, the cumulative effect of these events can be substantial. Mozambique's tree cover extent, which originally spanned over 28 million hectares, has been significantly reduced, affecting biodiversity, climate regulation, and local livelihoods.
Explore country profileThe trend over the past two decades shows a worrying escalation in tree cover loss, with the highest recorded loss in 2017 at over 359,000 hectares. Urbanization also contributes to the loss, although to a lesser extent than agriculture. The data underscores the urgent need for sustainable land management practices in Mozambique to curb the loss and mitigate the environmental impact.
