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April 30, 2022

Andrew Campbell 

According to a report published on April 28th by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch, the total tree cover loss in the tropics was 11.1 million hectares in 2021 as a result of growing populations and increased need for food and energy. The tropics emitted an estimated 2.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide when trees toppled. Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bolivia, and Indonesia suffered the most losses.

Boreal forests, outside of the tropics, suffered the highest rates of tree cover loss in 2021. Despite the fact that tree cover loss in boreal forests rarely leads to irreversible deforestation, the rate of loss in 2021 was unprecedented, rising by 29% over 2020. Climate change is putting these high-latitude, evergreen forests in jeopardy, with hotter, drier temperatures causing more fires and insect damage.

The report gives suggestions for how to keep promises to protect forests. For example, despite rising oil palm prices, Indonesia and Malaysia will need to keep momentum in protecting forests; Brazil and other Amazon countries will need to crack down on new deforestation hotspots; Congo Basin countries will need to ensure forest-friendly development paths; and Russia and other northern countries will need to combat the effects of climate change.