Argentina Battles Deforestation: A Decade of Tree Cover Trends and Recent Fire Alert

Argentina Battles Deforestation: A Decade of Tree Cover Trends and Recent Fire Alert

Argentina, a country with a landmass of over 278 million hectares, has experienced a notable decline in its tree cover over the past two decades. The country's tree cover extent, which stands at approximately 39 million hectares, has been subject to various pressures resulting in significant loss. Analysis of historical data reveals that the drivers of tree cover loss include shifting agriculture, forestry, wildfires, and urbanization.

From 2001 to 2023, Argentina has seen a total tree cover loss of over 4.66 million hectares, which equates to a 10.45% decrease in tree cover. Shifting agriculture has been the leading cause, contributing to around 1.50 million hectares of this loss. Forestry activities follow closely, accounting for over 1.10 million hectares. Wildfires, although less significant in comparison, have still contributed to the decline, with over 140,000 hectares lost to fires. Urbanization, while having the smallest impact, has led to the loss of approximately 3,000 hectares.