The latest survey highlights an unprecedented rate of global forest loss, primarily driven by fires, reshaping the environment and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Global Forest Destruction Surges as Climate Fires Dominate Losses
Global Forest Destruction Surges as Climate Fires Dominate Losses
New data reveals alarming trends in forest loss attributed to devastating fires, prompting urgent calls for action.
According to a joint study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland and the World Resources Institute, global forest destruction reached alarming levels last year, largely due to rampant fires. The findings indicate that pristine rainforests alone were decimated by a staggering 6.7 million hectares in 2024, nearly doubling the losses observed in 2023.
This devastation translates to a loss of forested land equivalent to 18 soccer fields every minute. In an unprecedented shift, wildfires emerged as the primary driving force behind rainforest loss, surpassing agricultural expansion for the first time since monitoring began. These fires were responsible for emitting 4.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases—over four times the emissions generated by air travel in 2023.
Despite this alarming trend, land clearance for agricultural and livestock production increased by 14%, marking the sharpest growth in almost a decade. Peter Potapov, co-director of the Global Land Analysis and Discovery Lab at the University of Maryland, cautioned that if these patterns persist, they could irrevocably alter vital ecosystems, trigger significant carbon releases, exacerbate climate change, and lead to even more extreme fire events in the future.
