Guinea Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Wildfire Incidents

Guinea Grapples with Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Wildfire Incidents

In a concerning environmental trend, Guinea has experienced a significant decline in its tree cover. Over the past two decades, the West African nation has seen a net loss of 1,589,675 hectares of tree cover, which equates to an 8.34% decrease from its original tree cover extent. This loss is primarily driven by shifting agriculture, which accounts for the majority of the tree cover loss, followed by wildfires and other factors such as urbanization.

The latest incident report from Kankan, Guinea, indicates a new wildfire, adding to the already critical situation. Wildfires have been a persistent issue, contributing to both the loss of tree cover and the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. In 2022 alone, wildfires resulted in the loss of 13,691.84 hectares of tree cover and the emission of approximately 6.55 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.