The latest fire incident, although isolated, underscores the ongoing vulnerability of Côte d'Ivoire's forests and highlights the need for continued monitoring and intervention to mitigate further environmental degradation.
Côte d'Ivoire has experienced a significant loss of tree cover over the past two decades. The latest incident reported on December 13, 2024, in the Zanzan District, adds to the ongoing environmental challenges the country faces. Analysis of historical data reveals that shifting agriculture is the predominant driver of tree cover loss, accounting for a substantial percentage of the total deforestation. Urbanization and forestry activities also contribute to the decline, albeit to a lesser extent.
The country's tree cover extent stands at approximately 14.87 million hectares, which has seen a net decrease of 6.94% due to various disturbances. While there has been some gain in tree cover, the loss far outweighs the regrowth, leading to a net loss of over 1.64 million hectares. This loss not only impacts the natural landscape but also has significant implications for carbon emissions, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere as a result of these activities.
Explore country profileThe latest fire incident, although isolated, underscores the ongoing vulnerability of Côte d'Ivoire's forests and highlights the need for continued monitoring and intervention to mitigate further environmental degradation.
