The year 2024 witnessed a devastating loss of tropical forests, with a record 67,000 square kilometers of primary rainforest disappearing, marking the highest rate of deforestation in at least two decades. This alarming trend was highlighted in a report by Global Forest Watch and the University of Maryland, which attributed the surge in forest loss to the El Niño weather phenomenon and the impacts of climate change.
Rod Taylor from Global Forest Watch emphasized that the intensification of forest fires, fueled by the warming global climate, has become a significant driver of deforestation. The rainforest, known for its role in regulating weather patterns and storing carbon, is now facing a critical tipping point where it sometimes emits more carbon than it absorbs, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
In 2024, fires accounted for five times more primary forest loss in the tropics compared to the previous year, contributing to 48% of all primary rainforest loss. The global impact of these fires led to greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 4.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide, surpassing the emissions from air travel in 2023.
Despite the official end of the El Niño event in April 2024, the lingering effects of dry and hot conditions continued to exacerbate wildfires in tropical regions. Brazil, experiencing its driest year in seven decades, lost 28,000 square kilometers of primary forest, with fires causing 60% of the forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon.
Furthermore, wildfires outside the tropics, particularly in countries like Canada and Russia, contributed to a global forest loss of 300,000 square kilometers, setting another record. Erika Berenguer from the University of Oxford highlighted the concerning trend of forest degradation, which reduces carbon storage and biodiversity, making the rainforest more vulnerable to future fires.
Ane Alencar from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute emphasized the fragile state of the rainforest, noting that the combination of degradation and the warming climate has made it more susceptible to intense wildfires. The report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to protect and preserve these vital ecosystems.
In conclusion, the escalating rate of deforestation and wildfires in tropical forests underscores the critical importance of addressing climate change and implementing sustainable land management practices to safeguard these invaluable natural resources for future generations.
