Tropical forests vanish at an alarming rate: 18 soccer fields a minute
According to a report by Global Forest Watch, the destruction of virgin tropical forests reached a rate of 18 soccer fields per minute last year, setting a record for at least the past 20 years.
Key Information
- In 2024, 6.7 million hectares (16.6 million acres) of tropical forests disappeared.
- Fires, primarily human-induced, were the leading cause.
- Brazil and Bolivia were the most affected by deforestation.
In 2024, tropical forests were destroyed at an unprecedented pace. A total of 6.7 million hectares (16.6 million acres) of virgin forests vanished, marking the largest loss since Global Forest Watch started data collection in 2002. This area is comparable to the size of Panama.
Nearly half of the loss was due to fires, which surpassed agricultural activities as the primary cause of forest destruction for the first time. These fires were often deliberately ignited by individuals seeking land for cultivation. The situation worsened because last year was the hottest on record. These "extreme conditions" made the fires "more intense and harder to control."
Brazil lost 2.8 million hectares (6.9 million acres) of forests last year, predominantly in the Amazon. Bolivia ranked second, losing three times more forests than the previous year. In both countries, fires were the primary factor in deforestation.
Global Challenge
Elizabeth Goldman from Global Forest Watch emphasized that the situation is alarming. "It’s a global red alert - a collective call to action for every country, every business and every person who cares about a livable planet," she underscored. Tropical forests are vital in the fight against climate change, as they absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
Rod Taylor from WRI highlighted new threats related to the mining industry and critical metals. He also highlighted the need for a global approach to addressing deforestation, which does not always have exact causes.
