Picture a world where forests vanish at a staggering rate, with last year's loss alone releasing carbon emissions equivalent to all of India's annual output.
Key Takeaways
- Global tree cover loss reached 6.6 million hectares in 2022, equivalent to a 3.9% decrease in tree cover since 2001 and emitting 2.7 Gt of CO₂e
- From 2001 to 2022, an average of 420,000 hectares of humid primary forest were lost annually worldwide
- In 2022, Brazil and Indonesia accounted for 47% of global tropical primary forest loss at 4.1 million hectares combined
- In 2022, Latin America lost 3 Mha tree cover, 45% of global total
- Africa experienced 1.2 Mha tropical primary forest loss in 2022, up 3% from prior year
- Asia lost 830,000 ha primary forest in 2022, with Indonesia at 337,000 ha
- Brazilian Amazon lost 11,088 km² in 2022
- Indonesia lost 337,000 ha primary forest in 2022
- Democratic Republic of Congo lost 526,000 ha primary forest in 2022
- Commodity agriculture drove 80% of Amazon deforestation 2000-2019
- Logging caused 35% of global tree cover loss outside plantations 2001-2019
- Fires accounted for 28% of global tree cover loss in 2022 at 2.3 Mha
- Forest loss released 2.7 Gt CO₂e in 2022, equivalent to India's annual emissions
- Deforestation caused 12-15% global anthropogenic GHG emissions 2000-2010
- Amazon forest loss threatens 10,000 species with extinction
Alarming forest loss continues to threaten climate, species, and human livelihoods globally.
Causes of Forest Loss Statistics
- Commodity agriculture drove 80% of Amazon deforestation 2000-2019
- Logging caused 35% of global tree cover loss outside plantations 2001-2019
- Fires accounted for 28% of global tree cover loss in 2022 at 2.3 Mha
- Shifting agriculture caused 24% of tropical deforestation 2000-2014
- Soy expansion drove 80% Paraguayan deforestation 2000-2010
- Palm oil plantations caused 50% Indonesian peat forest loss 2000-2016
- Cattle ranching responsible for 75% Brazilian Amazon clearing 1988-2014
- Illegal mining deforested 100,000 ha Peruvian Amazon 2018-2022
- Charcoal production caused 50% East African forest loss 2000-2020
- Urban expansion led to 5% global forest loss near cities 2000-2020
- Drought and climate stress caused 15% boreal forest loss 2000-2020
- Infrastructure like roads caused 10% Amazon loss via fragmentation
- Timber plantations replaced 20 Mha natural forest globally 1990-2020
- Fuelwood collection drove 70% deforestation in Sahel 1990-2015
- Commercial hunting concessions cleared 5 Mha Central Africa forest
- Hydroelectric dams flooded 1 Mha tropical forest 1980-2020
- Invasive pests caused 500,000 ha US forest loss annually
- Slash-and-burn cleared 30% Madagascar forests 2000-2020
- Cocoa farming drove 60% Côte d'Ivoire forest loss since 1990
- Beef production linked to 40% global deforestation emissions
Causes of Forest Loss Statistics Interpretation
Our plates, power grids, and parking lots are writing the obituary for the world’s forests, one hamburger, power line, and soy field at a time.
Global Forest Loss Statistics
- Global tree cover loss reached 6.6 million hectares in 2022, equivalent to a 3.9% decrease in tree cover since 2001 and emitting 2.7 Gt of CO₂e
- From 2001 to 2022, an average of 420,000 hectares of humid primary forest were lost annually worldwide
- In 2022, Brazil and Indonesia accounted for 47% of global tropical primary forest loss at 4.1 million hectares combined
- Global forest area decreased from 4.06 billion hectares in 1990 to 3.95 billion hectares in 2020, a net loss of 110 million hectares
- Between 2010 and 2020, the world lost 84 million hectares of forests, an area larger than the size of Egypt
- Annual global deforestation rate was 10 million hectares per year between 2010-2020, down from 16 million hectares per year in the 1990s
- From 2000 to 2019, 383 million hectares of tree cover were lost globally, releasing 8.1 gigatons of CO₂
- In 2023 preliminary data shows 4.1 million hectares of tropical primary rainforest loss worldwide
- Global mangrove forests lost 3,700 square km between 1996-2016, at an average rate of 210 square km per year
- From 1990 to 2020, the world gained 122 million hectares of forest through afforestation but lost 178 million to deforestation, net loss 56 million ha
- Global forest cover stood at 31% of total land area in 2020, down from 32% in 1990
- Between 2001-2022, 101 Mha of humid primary forest lost globally
- Annual global tree cover gain was 11.7 Mha from 2001-2022, but net loss due to higher gross loss
- In 2021, global tree cover loss was 3.75 Mha from fires alone
- Global peatland forest loss contributed 5% of total forest loss emissions from 2001-2019
- From 2001-2022, 49 Mha of Brazil's tree cover lost, most globally
- Global forest loss emitted 21 Gt CO₂e from 2001-2022
- In 2020, global primary forest loss was 11.1 Mha, highest on record at that time
- Global commodity-driven deforestation caused 40% of tropical tree cover loss from 2001-2017
- From 2015-2020, net global forest loss slowed to 5.6 Mha/year from 7.8 Mha/year prior
- Global old-growth forest loss was 9.8 Mha in 2022
- Between 1990-2015, 129 Mha natural forest converted to other land uses globally
- Global forest loss rate peaked at 7.3 Mha/year in 2017-2018
- In 2019, 3.8 Mha primary forest lost globally, emitting 4 Gt CO₂e
- Global tree cover loss from 2001-2020 totaled 435 Mha
- From 2000-2020, 68 Mha humid tropical primary forest lost globally
- Global deforestation emitted 1.5 Gt CO₂/year average 2000-2012
- In 2022, global tree cover loss increased 4.1% from 2021
- Global boreal forest loss was 1.2 Mha in 2022, driven by fires
- From 1990-2020, planted forests increased globally by 109 Mha, offsetting some loss
Global Forest Loss Statistics Interpretation
Despite the bittersweet progress of a slowing deforestation rate, our planet is essentially running a tragic, multi-decade clearance sale where we hastily chop down our irreplaceable natural capital to the tune of a small country each year, racking up a staggering carbon debt while the registers keep cha-chinging.
Impacts of Forest Loss Statistics
- Forest loss released 2.7 Gt CO₂e in 2022, equivalent to India's annual emissions
- Deforestation caused 12-15% global anthropogenic GHG emissions 2000-2010
- Amazon forest loss threatens 10,000 species with extinction
- Boreal fires from loss released 2 Gt CO₂ in 2021
- Forest loss reduced global carbon sink by 30% since 1990s
- 50-90% tree species at risk from deforestation in tropics
- Mangrove loss increases coastal flood risk for 15% global population
- Congo Basin deforestation displaces 1 million indigenous people
- Forest loss linked to 25% increase malaria in Amazon
- Global forest loss costs $2.5 trillion/year in ecosystem services
- Primary forest loss emits 73% of forest sector CO₂
- Deforestation fragments habitats, causing 20% species decline
- Forest loss in Indonesia threatens 200 endemic bird species
- Global water cycle disrupted by 10% from deforestation
- 80 million people depend on forests for livelihoods, threatened by loss
- Peat forest loss emits 4% global CO₂ despite 6% land area
- Forest loss increases soil erosion by 50-100 times in tropics
- Amazon tipping point risk from 20-25% loss affects global climate
- Deforestation causes 30% regional rainfall decline in West Africa
- Loss of 1 ha forest = 200 tons fish stock decline in rivers
- Global forest loss exacerbates 20% extreme weather events
- Indigenous territories lose 50% less forest than others
- Forest loss linked to $1 trillion annual biodiversity economic loss
Impacts of Forest Loss Statistics Interpretation
It’s as if Earth, weary of subtle hints, has itemized its receipt for humanity: a staggering bill of lost species, vanished homes, and a broken climate, all stemming from our vanishing forests.
National Forest Loss Statistics
- Brazilian Amazon lost 11,088 km² in 2022
- Indonesia lost 337,000 ha primary forest in 2022
- Democratic Republic of Congo lost 526,000 ha primary forest in 2022
- Bolivia lost 606,000 ha tree cover in 2022, highest per capita
- Peru lost 262,000 ha primary forest in 2022
- Canada lost 1.4 Mha tree cover in 2022, mostly fires
- Russia lost 1.3 Mha boreal forest in 2021 to fires
- Australia lost 700,000 ha in 2019-2020 bushfires
- Argentina lost 1.2 Mha tree cover 2001-2022
- Colombia lost 171,000 ha primary forest in 2022
- Mexico lost 380,000 ha forest annually average 2010-2020
- Gabon lost 1.5% primary forest yearly 2015-2020
- Laos lost 7.5% tree cover 2001-2022
- Paraguay lost 500,000 ha Atlantic Forest remnants
- Zambia lost 300,000 ha/year miombo woodland
- Tanzania lost 400,000 ha/year to agriculture
- Madagascar lost 2% forest cover annually 2010-2020
- Papua New Guinea lost 250,000 ha primary forest 2022
- Venezuela lost 200,000 ha Amazon forest 2022
- Angola lost 150,000 ha miombo 2022
- Republic of Congo lost 100,000 ha primary 2022
- Cameroon lost 40,000 ha primary 2022
- United States lost 1 Mha forest to wildfires 2020-2022
- India lost 2.3 Mha tree cover 2001-2022
National Forest Loss Statistics Interpretation
We are cutting down our planetary lungs at a pace so brisk it's less like deforestation and more like a global clearance sale for apocalypse bingo cards.
Regional Forest Loss Statistics
- In 2022, Latin America lost 3 Mha tree cover, 45% of global total
- Africa experienced 1.2 Mha tropical primary forest loss in 2022, up 3% from prior year
- Asia lost 830,000 ha primary forest in 2022, with Indonesia at 337,000 ha
- Between 2001-2022, Congo Basin lost 20 Mha tree cover
- Amazon region lost 4.8 Mha primary forest from 2000-2018
- Southeast Asia lost 25% of its mangroves from 1980-2005
- West Africa deforestation rate 0.5% annually 2000-2020, losing 3.5 Mha
- Central America lost 15% forest cover 1990-2010
- Russia’s boreal forests lost 2.5 Mha to fires in 2021 alone
- Canadian boreal forest loss averaged 800,000 ha/year from fires 2001-2020
- Mekong region lost 11% tree cover 2001-2019
- Sahel region gained 2.5 Mha forest through restoration but lost 1 Mha net 2000-2020
- Andes lost 9 Mha forest 2000-2013 to mining and agriculture
- East Africa lost 2.6 Mha forest 2001-2020, mainly to charcoal
- Oceania lost 1.1 Mha tree cover 2001-2022, mostly Australia bushfires
- North America boreal loss 25 Mha 2001-2022
- Europe net gained 0.5 Mha forest but lost 1 Mha old-growth
- Middle East lost 90% historical forests, ongoing 1% annual loss
- Caribbean islands lost 20% mangrove cover 1996-2010
- Southern Africa miombo woodlands lost 4.5 Mha 2001-2019
- Greater Mekong lost 15% forest cover since 2000
- Eurasian taiga lost 10 Mha to logging 2010-2020
- Central Asia lost 2 Mha forest to desertification 1990-2020
- Pacific Northwest US lost 1.5 Mha old-growth 1980-2020
Regional Forest Loss Statistics Interpretation
It seems we have collectively turned our planet's vibrant lungs into a patchwork of scar tissue, where even our sporadic successes at restoration are tragically offset by relentless and varied assaults from fire, axe, and plow.
Sources & References
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