A recent incident in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia, has raised concerns as the latest fire alert adds to the country's history of significant tree cover loss. Over the years, wildfires have been a major driver, contributing to a substantial portion of the tree cover loss. Analysis of historical data reveals that wildfires accounted for a considerable percentage of the total tree cover loss in Russia, with figures reaching as high as 60% in certain years.
The impact of these incidents on Russia's vast forested area, which spans over 761 million hectares, is not negligible. The net change in tree cover shows a slight decrease of approximately 0.02%, with a net loss of around 176,089 hectares when accounting for both losses and gains. This delicate balance highlights the ongoing challenges Russia faces in managing its forest resources and mitigating wildfire incidents.
Explore country profileAs the largest country by land area, with a significant portion covered by forests, Russia's tree cover dynamics are crucial to global environmental health. The recent incident in Zabaykalsky Krai serves as a reminder of the persistent threat wildfires pose to these critical ecosystems.
