South Africa has been grappling with significant tree cover loss over the past two decades. The country's tree cover extent, which stands at approximately 5.98 million hectares, has experienced a net decline of 141,776 hectares, marking a 1.86% decrease. This loss is primarily driven by forestry activities, which account for the majority of the tree cover loss, followed by shifting agriculture. Urbanization and wildfires also contribute to the decline, albeit to a lesser extent.
The latest incident from KwaZulu-Natal, where a wildfire was reported on August 28, 2024, adds to the existing challenges faced by the country's tree cover. While the number of incidents is relatively low, the impact of each event can be significant, especially in terms of biodiversity and habitat loss. Over the years, the cumulative effect of these losses has been substantial, with forestry and shifting agriculture being the most significant drivers, contributing to over 80% of the total tree cover loss.
Explore country profileThe net change in tree cover reflects a complex interplay of loss and gain, with a recorded gain of 388,239 hectares. However, this gain is overshadowed by the total loss and disturbance, leading to a negative net change. The data underscores the need for a closer examination of land use practices and the implementation of sustainable management to mitigate the ongoing decline in tree cover.
