Mozambique Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Recent Fire Incident

Mozambique Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Recent Fire Incident

Mozambique has experienced a significant decline in its tree cover over the past two decades, with the latest data revealing a concerning trend. The country, which boasts an area of approximately 78.70 million hectares, has seen its tree cover extent reduced to around 28.90 million hectares. This loss in tree cover has had substantial environmental impacts, as evidenced by the latest incident in Sofala Province, where a fire alert was registered on September 14, 2024.

The historical data paints a grim picture, with the primary driver of tree cover loss being shifting agriculture, accounting for the vast majority of the decline. This practice has consistently led to extensive deforestation, with other factors such as urbanization and forestry contributing to a lesser extent. Over the years, the cumulative loss of tree cover has resulted in millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent gross emissions, exacerbating the global climate crisis.