The Dominican Republic, with an area of approximately 4.80 million hectares, has experienced significant tree cover loss over the past two decades. The country's tree cover extent, which stands at over 2.50 million hectares, has seen a net change in tree cover characterized by a loss of 122,957 hectares and a gain of 54,805 hectares, resulting in a net loss of 68,152 hectares. This equates to a 2.54% decrease in tree cover from the stable extent.
Shifting agriculture has been the predominant driver of tree cover loss, accounting for a substantial portion of the deforestation. Urbanization, while contributing to a lesser extent, has also played a role in the reduction of tree cover. Notably, the data does not specify the impact of wildfires on tree cover loss, although a recent fire incident was reported in the San Juan Province on August 29, 2024.
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