Canada has recently faced a wildfire incident in Manitoba, reflecting a broader environmental challenge as data over two decades shows a worrying trend in tree cover loss. The country, with an area of over 983 million hectares, has a significant tree cover extent of approximately 418 million hectares. However, the net change in tree cover reveals a loss of over 25 million hectares, with a gain of nearly 17 million hectares, leading to a net loss of around 8.20 million hectares, marking a 2.76% decrease in tree cover.
Forestry activities and wildfires are the primary drivers of this loss, with forestry accounting for a substantial portion and wildfires also contributing significantly. Urbanization and shifting agriculture, although less impactful, add to the overall reduction in tree cover. The year 2022 alone saw a tree cover loss of over 2.29 million hectares, with wildfires being responsible for more than half of this loss.
Explore country profileThis pattern of tree cover loss not only impacts the natural landscape but also has a profound effect on carbon emissions, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere as a result. The data underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to manage and mitigate the factors contributing to tree cover loss, especially in the face of recurring wildfire incidents.
