Iraq faces a new environmental hurdle as a fire incident was reported on September 15, 2024, in the Maysan Governorate. This incident adds to the country's ongoing struggle with tree cover loss, which has seen a net decrease over the years. Despite a total area of over 44 million hectares, Iraq's tree cover extent is just 17,504 hectares, a minuscule fraction of its land area. Over the years, the country has experienced a fluctuating trend in tree cover loss, with the highest recorded loss of 19.62 hectares in 2003. However, there has been a significant improvement, with the loss plummeting to just 0.06 hectares in 2019.
The net change in tree cover reveals a more hopeful narrative, with a net gain of 8,903 hectares when accounting for both losses and gains in tree cover. This represents a net change of approximately 30.50%. Despite the absence of clear drivers for these losses, the data suggests a gradual move towards recovery and reforestation. The latest fire incident, while isolated, underscores the need for vigilance and continued efforts to protect and expand Iraq's natural habitats.
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