Angola Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Fire Incidents

Angola Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Fire Incidents

Angola has been facing a significant challenge in recent years with an escalating trend in tree cover loss and fire incidents. The latest report from Cuando Cubango Province indicates a new fire incident, adding to the country's environmental concerns. Over the past two decades, Angola has seen a net change in tree cover that reflects a loss of 3,412,610.65 hectares, which is a reduction of approximately 4.41% of its tree cover extent. This loss has been primarily driven by shifting agriculture, accounting for the vast majority of the tree cover loss, followed by wildfires and forestry activities.

The impact of these losses is not just limited to the reduction in tree cover but also includes significant emissions of CO2e into the atmosphere. In the year 2021 alone, tree cover loss resulted in the emission of approximately 118.89 million metric tons of CO2e, with shifting agriculture being the predominant cause. This trend of tree cover loss and associated CO2e emissions has been consistent, with only minor fluctuations over the years.