Surge in Wildfires and Deforestation Challenges in the United States

Surge in Wildfires and Deforestation Challenges in the United States

The United States has witnessed a significant challenge in managing wildfires and deforestation over the years. Recent data indicates a concerning trend with an increase in wildfire incidents, including the latest alert from Georgia, USA. The country's vast land area of approximately 947 million hectares, with a tree cover extent of over 279 million hectares, has been subject to various drivers of tree cover loss.

Forestry activities have been the predominant cause, contributing to a substantial portion of the total tree cover loss, which has been on an upward trajectory. Wildfires, too, have played a critical role, with incidents causing not only loss of tree cover but also contributing to emissions. Urbanization, while necessary for development, has further compounded the loss of tree cover.