Zambia has experienced a significant decrease in its tree cover over the years, with a net change of -7.31% in tree cover. The latest incident report from Copperbelt Province on August 22, 2024, adds to the concerns, marking yet another event in the country's environmental challenges. The predominant cause of tree cover loss has been shifting agriculture, contributing to the vast majority of the deforestation. This practice alone was responsible for an overwhelming percentage of the tree cover loss, with other factors like urbanization and wildfires also playing a role, albeit to a much lesser extent.
The impact of these losses is substantial, considering that Zambia's tree cover represents a significant portion of its total land area. The loss of tree cover not only affects biodiversity and habitat but also has implications for carbon emissions, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere as a result of these activities. The trend over the past two decades shows a worrying escalation in tree cover loss, highlighting the need for urgent attention and action to protect Zambia's remaining forests and reverse the negative environmental trajectory.
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