2024’s wildfire wake-up call: forests vanishing at record pace

Reuters

In 2024, global forest loss reached a historic peak, with wildfires—fueled by extreme climate conditions—destroying millions of hectares of tropical forests. Brazil, set to host COP30, was the hardest hit.

A record 6.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest were lost in 2024, mostly due to climate-induced wildfires. For the first time, fires surpassed agriculture as the top driver of deforestation. Brazil led the losses, followed by Bolivia and the DRC. These fires emitted over four gigatons of CO₂—more than all 2023 air travel combined.

Outside the tropics, severe blazes in Russia and Canada also worsened forest loss. Despite global pledges to halt deforestation by 2030, most countries are falling behind. The report urges urgent investment in fire prevention, enforcement, and Indigenous-led conservation.

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