Botswana, a country with a land area of over 57 million hectares, has experienced a significant loss in tree cover over the years. The latest incident report from Central District indicates a new fire alert, adding to the environmental challenges the nation faces. Despite a tree cover extent of approximately 20,328 hectares, Botswana has seen a net loss of 1,268 hectares in tree cover, which equates to a 0.71% decrease from the total tree cover extent.
Over the past two decades, the predominant driver of tree cover loss has been shifting agriculture, contributing to both deforestation and emissions. Notably, in 2001, shifting agriculture accounted for approximately 10.90% of the total tree cover loss for that year. The trend of tree cover loss has fluctuated, with some years experiencing minimal impact, such as in 2015 and 2019, where virtually no loss was recorded.
Explore country profileDespite these losses, there have been gains in tree cover amounting to 13,303 hectares. However, these gains have not been sufficient to offset the overall loss, leading to a negative net change. The recent fire incident, although isolated, serves as a reminder of the ongoing environmental challenges and the need for continued vigilance and sustainable land management practices to preserve Botswana's natural resources.
