Paraguay has faced significant challenges in maintaining its tree cover, with a net loss of over 5.80 million hectares, marking a 24.70% decrease. This decline is primarily attributed to shifting agriculture, which accounts for a substantial portion of the tree cover loss, followed by forestry, wildfires, and urbanization. The latest incident on July 17, 2024, in the Alto Paraguay Department, adds to the country's environmental concerns, highlighting the ongoing battle against deforestation. Over the years, wildfires have contributed to the emissions of millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent, exacerbating the impact on Paraguay's rich biodiversity and carbon storage capacity. The country's struggle reflects a broader global challenge of balancing development with environmental conservation.
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