Madagascar has witnessed a significant challenge to its forest cover over the years. The latest incident, a fire alert in the Sava region on October 24, 2024, adds to the country's environmental concerns. Madagascar, with an area of over 59 million hectares, has a tree cover extent of approximately 17 million hectares. However, the island nation has experienced a net loss of tree cover, with a 5.89% decrease in stable tree cover areas.
The primary driver of tree cover loss has been shifting agriculture, accounting for the vast majority of the total tree cover loss over the years. For instance, in 2022, shifting agriculture was responsible for approximately 96.90% of the total tree cover loss. Forestry activities and wildfires also contributed to the loss, but to a much lesser extent. The impact of urbanization on tree cover loss remains undocumented.
Explore country profileThe cumulative effect of these losses is substantial. Madagascar has seen a net decrease of over 1 million hectares in tree cover, which includes a disturbance of nearly 4.70 million hectares. While there has been some gain, it is minimal in comparison to the losses, highlighting the ongoing pressure on Madagascar's forests and the need for sustainable management and conservation efforts.
