Senegal has been grappling with significant tree cover loss over the past two decades, primarily due to shifting agriculture practices. The latest incident report from the Tambacounda Region highlights a singular fire alert, indicative of the ongoing environmental challenges the country faces. With an area spanning nearly 19.70 million hectares, Senegal's tree cover extent is a mere 0.20% of its total land area. Analysis of historical data reveals a troubling trend, with a net loss of over 31,000 hectares of tree cover, which equates to a 0.76% decrease in tree cover stability.
Shifting agriculture has been the predominant driver of this deforestation, responsible for the vast majority of tree cover loss year after year. The impact of this practice is evident in the increase of emissions, with the highest recorded loss in 2020, where tree cover loss was over 750 hectares. Although there has been a fluctuation in the annual loss rates, the overall trend points to a persistent decline in tree cover, which has significant implications for the country's biodiversity, climate, and local communities.
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