South Africa has experienced significant tree cover loss over the past two decades, with recent data showing a concerning trend in the country's forested regions. The latest incident report from Mpumalanga indicates a wildfire alert, adding to the ongoing environmental challenges. The country's tree cover extent spans approximately 5.98 million hectares, which has faced a net loss of 141,776 hectares, marking a 1.86% decrease in tree cover.
Shifting agriculture and forestry have been the primary drivers of tree cover loss, contributing to 22.80% and 70.50% of the total loss respectively. Urbanization, while less impactful, still plays a role, accounting for a smaller percentage of the loss. Wildfires, although contributing to a relatively minor portion of the overall loss, remain a persistent threat, as evidenced by the recent incident in Mpumalanga.
Explore country profileThe cumulative impact of these factors has led to a net change in tree cover that reflects both the loss and gain over the years. The data reveals a disturbing pattern of environmental degradation, with the loss outpacing the gains. This trend underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to managing land use and mitigating the effects of climate-related incidents on South Africa's natural resources.
