A recent fire incident in the Basra Governorate of Iraq has underscored the environmental issues facing the country. Despite Iraq's vast land area of over 44 million hectares, the tree cover extent is a mere 17,504 hectares, which is approximately 0.04% of the total land area. Over the years, Iraq has experienced a fluctuating pattern of tree cover loss, with a notable decrease in recent years. The net change in tree cover shows a positive trend, with a net gain of approximately 8,903 hectares, indicating a recovery of around 0.02% compared to the total area.
The history of tree cover loss in Iraq has seen variations, with the highest loss recorded in 2003 at nearly 20 hectares. However, this figure has significantly reduced over time, with the latest data from 2019 showing a loss of only 0.06 hectares. While the data does not specify the drivers behind these losses, the absence of wildfires, urbanization, forestry, and shifting agriculture as known factors suggests other influences at play.
Explore country profileThe single fire incident reported on October 18, 2024, although small in scale, is a reminder of the ongoing environmental incidents that can threaten Iraq's fragile ecosystems. The country's environmental trajectory shows a delicate balance between loss and recovery, with efforts to increase tree cover being crucial for its ecological stability.
