Tunisia Battles Isolated Fire Incident Amid Ongoing Deforestation Challenges

Tunisia Battles Isolated Fire Incident Amid Ongoing Deforestation Challenges

A recent fire incident in the Béja Governorate of Tunisia has raised concerns amidst the country's ongoing struggle with deforestation. Over the past two decades, Tunisia has experienced a net loss in tree cover, which now stands at a decrease of 1.73%. This loss is primarily due to shifting agriculture, responsible for a significant portion of tree cover loss, and forestry activities. The latest data shows a single fire alert in the region, highlighting the sporadic nature of such incidents in the country.

Despite a stable tree cover extent of 240,737 hectares, Tunisia has seen a loss of 14,967 hectares, with gains amounting to only 10,133 hectares. The disturbance to the tree cover has been recorded at 23,713 hectares, leading to a net loss of 4,834 hectares. The country's tree cover extent, which is a mere 1.44% of its total land area, underscores the vulnerability of its forest ecosystems.