A recent fire incident in the Aleppo Governorate of Syria has added to the country's ongoing environmental challenges. Over the past two decades, Syria has experienced a net loss of 12,291 hectares in tree cover, which is approximately 8.40% of its total tree cover extent. The predominant drivers of tree cover loss have been identified as forestry, which accounts for a significant portion, followed by wildfires and shifting agriculture.
In 2023 alone, Syria witnessed a loss of 2,445.72 hectares, with forestry activities contributing to over half of this figure. Wildfires also played a major role, causing nearly 40% of the tree cover loss for that year. The cumulative effect of these incidents over the years has had a substantial impact on the country's natural landscape and its ability to sequester carbon, with millions of metric tons of CO2e emissions associated with these losses.
Explore country profileThe latest fire alert in Aleppo is a stark reminder of the persistent environmental issues facing Syria. With a history of significant tree cover loss due to various anthropogenic activities, the country's remaining tree cover is under constant threat. The ongoing trend of tree cover loss, if not addressed, could lead to further ecological imbalance and degradation of natural resources.
