Tanzania, a country with an area of over 94 million hectares, has experienced a significant reduction in its tree cover over the years. The country's tree cover extent, which stands at approximately 26.40 million hectares, has seen a net loss of over 3.80 million hectares, marking an 11.30% decrease in forest cover. This loss has been primarily driven by shifting agriculture, accounting for the vast majority of tree cover loss, followed by forestry activities, urbanization, and wildfires.
The impact of these activities on the environment is substantial, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent gross emissions being released into the atmosphere. The data indicates a consistent trend of tree cover loss over the years, with shifting agriculture remaining the leading cause. This has resulted in a significant disturbance to the natural landscape, with over 1.40 million hectares affected.
Explore country profileRecently, on August 26, 2024, Tanzania faced a fire incident in the Njombe Region, adding to the challenges of forest conservation in the country. While the number of incidents was limited to one, the occurrence is a stark reminder of the ongoing threats to Tanzania's forests. The country's struggle with forest cover reduction highlights the need for a broader discussion on sustainable land use and forest management practices to mitigate further environmental impact.
