Brazil's Forests Under Threat: Single Day Blaze Highlights Ongoing Struggle

Brazil's Forests Under Threat: Single Day Blaze Highlights Ongoing Struggle

A recent incident in Ceará, Brazil, where a fire alert was registered on November 21, 2024, underscores the country's continuous battle against forest loss. Over the past two decades, Brazil has seen a significant fluctuation in tree cover loss, with a notable peak in 2016 where over 5.30 million hectares were lost. This represents the highest annual loss within the recorded period, accounting for approximately 1.50% of the total tree cover extent at the beginning of the century.

The primary driver of this deforestation has been shifting agriculture, responsible for a substantial portion of the tree cover loss, followed by forestry activities. Wildfires and urbanization also contributed to the decline, albeit to a lesser extent. The net change in tree cover over the years reveals a concerning trend, with a net loss of over 28 million hectares, which is a 5.93% decrease from the original tree cover extent.