Guinea has faced significant environmental challenges over the past two decades, with a recent incident highlighting the ongoing struggle. On November 17, 2024, a fire alert was reported in the Faranah region, adding to the country's history of tree cover loss and its associated impacts. Guinea, with an area of over 24 million hectares, has seen a considerable decline in its tree cover. Notably, the tree cover extent, which stands at approximately 8.16 million hectares, has experienced a net loss of over 1.86 million hectares. This loss represents a decrease of 8.34% in tree cover, a concerning trend for the country's environmental health.
Shifting agriculture has been identified as the primary driver of tree cover loss, accounting for a significant percentage of the decline. Wildfires also pose a substantial threat, contributing to both the loss of tree cover and the release of carbon emissions. Urbanization, although a smaller factor, has added to the cumulative effect on Guinea's natural landscapes.
Explore country profileThe environmental consequences of these losses are far-reaching, impacting biodiversity, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of local communities. The net change in tree cover, which includes a gain of approximately 272,657 hectares, has not been sufficient to offset the losses and disturbances to the ecosystem. The ongoing incidents of tree cover loss underscore the need for a broader discussion on sustainable land management and environmental conservation in Guinea.
