A report from the Forest Declaration Assessment reveals that global deforestation reached a staggering 6.37 million hectares in 2023, nearly equivalent to the size of Latvia. This figure is significantly above the target of 4.4 million hectares set to halt deforestation by 2030.
The primary drivers of this destruction include agricultural activities, road construction, wildfires, and commercial logging. Ivan Palmegiani, the report's lead author, stated, "Globally, deforestation is worsening, not improving, since the beginning of this decade." He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that there are only six years left to meet the critical deadline to end deforestation.
Almost 96% of the deforestation in 2023 occurred in tropical countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Bolivia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While Brazil has shown significant progress in reducing deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest by 62% under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, deforestation has surged in regions like El Cerrado and in countries like Bolivia and Indonesia.
Bolivia's deforestation increased by 351% from 2015 to 2023, while Indonesia saw a rise in deforestation after two years of decline, driven partly by demand for materials for environmentally friendly products. The report also highlights that Indonesia ranks second after Brazil in forest loss since 1990.
In 2021, over 140 countries pledged to end deforestation at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, but researchers claim these promises remain unfulfilled. Erin Matson, a co-author of the report, stressed the need for uninterrupted forest protection amid political and economic changes and a shift in consumption and production practices.
Despite the dire circumstances, Palmegiani expresses hope for improvement, urging industrial nations to better support forest-rich countries in their conservation efforts. Recently, the European Commission postponed the implementation of anti-deforestation legislation until the end of 2025, facing opposition from environmental organizations. Forests, which house 80% of terrestrial plant and animal species, play a crucial role in regulating the water cycle and absorbing CO2, making them vital in the fight against climate change.