Angola has witnessed a significant escalation in tree cover loss over the years, with a recent fire incident reported on July 19, 2024, in the Cuando Cubango Province. The country, which spans over 124 million hectares, has seen its tree cover extent, originally at 55 million hectares, impacted heavily by various drivers. Shifting agriculture remains the predominant cause, contributing to the vast majority of the tree cover loss. Wildfires and forestry activities also play a role, though to a lesser extent.
From 2001 to 2022, Angola experienced a total tree cover loss of approximately 3.40 million hectares, which is about 6.10% of its original tree cover. The net change in tree cover shows a disturbing trend with a net loss of over 2.10 million hectares, marking a 4.40% decrease. This loss has not only affected the landscape but also contributed to significant emissions of CO2, with the latest figures for 2022 showing over 102 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.
Explore country profile