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13 Nov 2024

Russia Battles Wildfires and Deforestation, Tree Cover Loss Trends Raise Concerns
Russia Battles Wildfires and Deforestation, Tree Cover Loss Trends Raise Concerns

Russia, with its vast expanse of forests covering over 761 million hectares, has been facing significant tree cover loss over the years. A recent incident in the Sakha Republic highlights the ongoing challenges as the country reported a wildfire on November 13, 2024. This incident is a part of a concerning trend observed over the past two decades, where forestry activities, shifting agriculture, and particularly wildfires have been the primary drivers of tree cover loss.

From 2001 to 2022, Russia experienced a staggering net loss of approximately 37.40 million hectares of tree cover, which is about 4.90% of its total tree cover extent. Wildfires have been the most significant contributor to this loss, accounting for a substantial portion of both the tree cover loss and associated CO2 emissions. For instance, in 2022 alone, wildfires were responsible for over 3.10 million hectares of the total 4.30 million hectares lost, emphasizing the scale of the challenge.

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The data reveals a fluctuating but overall increasing trend in tree cover loss, with some years, such as 2018, experiencing as high as 5.60 million hectares lost. The impact on the environment is further underscored by the CO2 emissions associated with this loss, with years like 2018 releasing over 1.10 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalents into the atmosphere.

While the net change in tree cover has seen minor fluctuations, the overall change remains negative, with a net loss of approximately 176,000 hectares, indicating that reforestation efforts are not keeping pace with the rate of deforestation and disturbances. As Russia continues to grapple with these environmental challenges, the focus on sustainable forestry practices and wildfire management becomes increasingly critical to mitigate further loss and its global impact.

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