Global Forest Loss Hits Record Highs Fueled by Wildfires, Extreme Heat

Global loss of tropical and boreal forests reached record highs in 2024, driven primarily by unprecedented heat and wildfires, which released carbon emissions surpassing those from all air travel that year. Satellite data indicates that 67,000 square kilometers of old-growth tropical forests were lost, an area nearly the size of the Republic of Ireland, with fires overtaking agricultural clearing as the main cause for the first time. The Amazon rainforest, particularly affected by severe drought and human-induced fires, accounted for a significant portion of the loss, raising alarm among scientists about the possibility of reaching a tipping point where these forests could irreversibly decline and transition to savanna. While some regions like Southeast Asia showed improvements due to government policies reducing deforestation, the overall trend threatens biodiversity, local climates, and the global carbon cycle. Experts warn that this accelerated forest degradation could undermine efforts to combat climate change as forests shift from carbon sinks to net carbon sources. Brazil, as host of the upcoming COP30 climate summit, experienced its worst forest losses since 2016, underscoring the urgent need for stronger conservation and climate action globally.