The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported a new fire incident in the Haut-Katanga region as of October 24, 2024, adding to the country's environmental challenges. Over the past two decades, DRC has experienced significant tree cover loss primarily due to shifting agriculture, which accounts for the vast majority of this loss. The data reveals a disturbing trend of deforestation, with a staggering net loss of over 6 million hectares of tree cover, equating to a 3.55% decrease in tree cover since records began.
Shifting agriculture remains the dominant driver of deforestation, followed by urbanization, forestry, and wildfires. Although wildfires contribute the least to tree cover loss, their impact on the ecosystem can be severe. The DRC's vast forested area, which originally spanned over 199 million hectares, has been significantly reduced, affecting biodiversity and contributing to climate change through carbon emissions.
Explore country profileThe latest fire incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of the DRC's forests to various threats. As the country grapples with these environmental challenges, the need for sustainable land management and conservation efforts becomes increasingly critical to preserve its remaining forests and combat climate change.
