Namibia's Kavango East Region recently experienced a fire incident, a reminder of the environmental challenges the country faces. Over the past two decades, Namibia has seen a net loss in tree cover, with a total of 15,674.13 hectares lost and a gain of 15,114.35 hectares, leading to a net negative change of 559.78 hectares. This represents a slight decrease of 0.34% in tree cover, reflecting the ongoing struggle against deforestation and land use changes.
Shifting agriculture has been the primary driver of tree cover loss, accounting for significant portions of the deforestation each year. For instance, in the year 2022 alone, shifting agriculture was responsible for a tree cover loss of 0.22 hectares. While the rate of loss has fluctuated over the years, the trend points to a persistent challenge in balancing agricultural needs with environmental conservation.
Explore country profileThe latest fire incident, although isolated, adds to the cumulative impact on Namibia's tree cover. The country's tree cover extent stands at a mere 3,835.35 hectares, a small fraction of its vast land area of over 82 million hectares. As the global community becomes increasingly aware of the importance of forests in biodiversity and climate regulation, incidents like these underscore the need for sustained attention to forest conservation in Namibia.
