Brazil, a country with a vast area of over 850 million hectares, has experienced a significant decline in its tree cover over the years. The latest incident data reveals a fire alert in the State of Bahia, underscoring the ongoing environmental challenges the nation faces. Over the past two decades, Brazil has seen a net loss of approximately 28 million hectares of tree cover, which is a 5.93% decrease from its previous tree cover extent.
The primary drivers of this deforestation have been shifting agriculture, responsible for a substantial portion of the tree cover loss, and forestry activities. Wildfires and urbanization also contribute to the decline, albeit to a lesser extent. The year 2016 marked the highest recorded tree cover loss, with over 5.30 million hectares affected, largely due to shifting agriculture practices.
Explore country profileThe impact of these losses is profound, not only on biodiversity and habitat but also on carbon emissions, with billions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent released into the atmosphere as a result of these activities. The recent fire alert in Bahia is a stark reminder of the persistent threat of wildfires in the region. As Brazil continues to grapple with these environmental issues, the need for sustainable land management and conservation efforts becomes increasingly apparent.
