Argentina recently faced a fire incident in Santiago del Estero Province, underscoring the nation's broader challenge with deforestation. Over the past two decades, Argentina has experienced a significant loss of tree cover, with a net change of -10.45%. The country's tree cover extent, which stands at over 39 million hectares, has seen a loss of approximately 4.66 million hectares, partially offset by a gain of around 1.11 million hectares.
Shifting agriculture and forestry remain the primary drivers of tree cover loss, contributing to around 1.68% and 0.87% of the total area respectively. Wildfires, although less significant in comparison, have also played a role in the deforestation, accounting for a smaller yet impactful percentage of the loss. Urbanization, while contributing the least, still factors into the overall reduction of Argentina's tree cover.
Explore country profileThe latest incident, while minor in scale with just one alert reported, is a reminder of the persistent threat to Argentina's forests. The cumulative impact of these losses is substantial, with the country grappling to balance agricultural expansion, forestry practices, and the preservation of its natural ecosystems.
