Bolivia has been facing a significant challenge with escalating tree cover loss over the years. The latest incident report from Santa Cruz Department indicates a wildfire occurrence, adding to the country's environmental concerns. Bolivia's tree cover extent spans over 64 million hectares, a substantial portion of the country's total area. However, the persistent loss of tree cover, primarily due to shifting agriculture, has been alarming. Shifting agriculture alone accounts for a considerable percentage of the total tree cover loss, with other factors like forestry and wildfires contributing to the decline.
Over the years, the data reveals a troubling trend of increasing tree cover loss, with the most recent figures showing an alarming rate of nearly 596,000 hectares lost in 2022. This represents a significant percentage increase from the previous years. The cumulative effect of these losses has resulted in a net negative change in tree cover, with the country experiencing a 5.61% decrease in tree cover stability. Wildfires, although not the most significant driver, have been persistent, with incidents occurring annually, further exacerbating the situation.
Explore country profileThe environmental impact of these losses is profound, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. The situation in Bolivia is a stark reminder of the global challenge of deforestation and the need for concerted efforts to protect and restore vital ecosystems.
