Tropical forest destruction hits record high: A global red alert
The destruction of pristine tropical forests reached a rate of 18 soccer fields per minute last year, setting a record for at least the past 20 years, according to a report by Global Forest Watch, as cited by the Climate Home News.
Key information
- In 2024, 16.6 million acres of tropical forests vanished.
- Fires, primarily human-induced, were the main cause.
- Brazil and Bolivia were most affected by deforestation.
In 2024, the destruction of tropical forests reached a record pace. 16.6 million acres of pristine forests disappeared, the largest amount since Global Forest Watch began collecting data in 2002. This is an area comparable to the size of Panama.
Nearly half of the destruction was due to fires, which, for the first time, surpassed agricultural activities as the main cause of forest loss. These fires were often deliberately started by people looking to clear land for crops. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that last year was the hottest on record, making these extreme "conditions fires more intense and harder to control."
Brazil lost 6.9 million acres of forests last year, with the majority in the Amazon. Bolivia came in second, losing three times more forest than the previous year. In both countries, fires were the main factor in deforestation.
Global challenge
Elizabeth Goldman from Global Forest Watch emphasized that the situation is alarming. "It's a global red alert," highlighted Goldman, as cited by The Independent. Tropical forests are crucial in the fight against climate change, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide.
Rod Taylor from WRI pointed out new threats associated with the mining industry and critical metals. He noted the need for a global approach to the deforestation problem, which does not always have the same causes.
