Tanzania has recently experienced a fire incident in the Njombe Region, highlighting the country's ongoing struggle with tree cover loss. Over the past two decades, Tanzania has seen a significant reduction in its tree cover, with a net loss of over 3.80 million hectares, marking an 11.30% decrease in tree cover. The primary driver of this loss has been shifting agriculture, which accounts for the vast majority of tree cover decline. Forestry activities, wildfires, and urbanization also contribute to the loss, albeit to a lesser extent.
The latest incident in Njombe is a stark reminder of the wildfires' impact on Tanzania's natural resources. While the number of incidents is relatively low, the cumulative effect of these events, combined with other factors, poses a significant threat to the country's forest ecosystems. The tree cover loss not only affects biodiversity but also has implications for carbon emissions, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere as a result of these activities.
Explore country profileTanzania's tree cover extent, which once stood at over 26 million hectares, is now facing a critical challenge. The country's natural landscapes are at a crossroads, with the need for sustainable management practices more pressing than ever. The incident in Njombe serves as a call to action to address the underlying causes of tree cover loss and to promote conservation efforts that can reverse this worrying trend.
