Tropical policy

Chainsaws and bulldozers are rattling a little less loud across some of the world’s tropical forests. Non-fire related tropical forest loss was 3.1 million hectares in 2023, the lowest figure since 2016. But that’s still an area three quarters of the size of the Netherlands. Fire-related tropical forest loss added another 0.7 million hectares. The most forests were lost in Brazil, about 1.1 million hectares, but that country did achieve a 39% reduction in forest loss. Colombia also achieved a substantial reduction: 49%. The reduction in forest loss coincides with policy changes in both countries. However, forest loss rose in Congo, Bolivia and Indonesia, who accounted for about 35% of forest loss in 2023. Tropical forest loss leads to higher carbon emissions and a reduction in biodiversity.

Source: World Resource Institute, April 2024.