Côte d'Ivoire has witnessed a significant decline in its tree cover over recent years, with shifting agriculture identified as the primary driver. Analysis of historical data reveals that the country has experienced a total tree cover loss of 2,530,533.35 hectares, which equates to a 6.94% decrease from its original tree cover extent. Shifting agriculture alone accounts for a staggering majority of this loss, followed by other factors such as urbanization, forestry, and wildfires.
The impact of these losses is profound, considering the country's total area of over 32 million hectares, with tree cover initially spanning nearly 14.90 million hectares. The net change in tree cover reflects a loss that far exceeds the gains from reforestation or natural regeneration, with a net negative balance of 1,648,854.38 hectares.
Explore country profileRecent incidents further underscore the ongoing environmental challenges. A single fire alert was recorded in the Zanzan District on January 22, 2025, highlighting the persistent threat of wildfires to the region's vegetation. The cumulative effect of these factors over the years underscores the urgency for sustainable land management practices to mitigate further tree cover loss in Côte d'Ivoire.
