Ethiopia Faces Environmental Challenge with Tree Cover Loss and Recent Fire Incident

Ethiopia Faces Environmental Challenge with Tree Cover Loss and Recent Fire Incident

In Ethiopia, a country with an area of over 112 million hectares, the struggle to maintain its tree cover is evident. The tree cover extent, which stands at around 12 million hectares, has seen a net change in tree cover with a loss of 1,141,912.66 hectares, a gain of 403,581.93 hectares, and a net loss of 738,330.73 hectares, marking a 3.61% decrease.

The history of tree cover loss in Ethiopia has been significantly driven by shifting agriculture, which accounts for the majority of the loss each year. For instance, in 2022, shifting agriculture was responsible for 96.24% of the total tree cover loss. Urbanization, though a smaller factor, has also contributed to the loss, with a notable 82.83 hectares lost in 2022.