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29 Aug 2024

Russia's Forests Under Threat: Wildfires Lead to Significant Tree Cover Loss
Russia's Forests Under Threat: Wildfires Lead to Significant Tree Cover Loss

Russia's vast forested landscapes are facing a critical challenge as wildfires become a leading cause of tree cover loss. Over the past two decades, the country has experienced a substantial decline in its tree cover, with a significant portion attributed to wildfires. Analysis of historical data reveals a disturbing trend, with the tree cover loss reaching its peak in 2021 with over 6.50 million hectares affected. This figure represents a stark increase from the 1.80 million hectares lost in 2001.

Forestry activities also contribute to the decline, with millions of hectares impacted annually. The net change in tree cover shows a minimal but concerning decrease, with a net loss of approximately 176,089 hectares, indicating that the gains in tree cover are not keeping pace with the losses.

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The latest incident in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug underscores the ongoing threat to Russia's forests. On August 29, 2024, a fire alert was registered in the region, adding to the long list of similar events that have plagued the country's woodlands. With the tree cover extent representing a significant part of Russia's land area, the implications of these losses are profound, affecting biodiversity, climate regulation, and local communities. The trend calls for increased attention to the resilience and management of Russia's forests in the face of these challenges.

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