Zambia's Forests Face Mounting Pressure from Agriculture and Urbanization

Zambia's Forests Face Mounting Pressure from Agriculture and Urbanization

Zambia has experienced a significant decline in its tree cover over the past two decades, primarily due to shifting agriculture and urbanization. The country, which boasts an area of over 75 million hectares, has seen its tree cover extent reduced to approximately 24 million hectares. Notably, shifting agriculture has been the leading driver of tree cover loss, accounting for the vast majority of the hectares lost annually.

The data reveals a worrying trend, with the total tree cover loss reaching its peak in 2021 with over 200,000 hectares affected. This represents a substantial increase from the 30,123 hectares lost in 2001. Urbanization, while less significant in comparison to agriculture, has also contributed to the decline, with a notable increase in tree cover loss due to urban expansion in recent years.