Tropical forest loss eases after record year

The pace of tropical forest destruction slowed in 2025 after record
losses the year before but remained at worrying levels equivalent
to 11 football fields per minute, researchers said

A 36% drop in tropical primary rainforest loss
compared to 2024 is due largely to BrazilŐs
efforts to curb deforestation as pledged by
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (right)
when he took office in 2023

TROPICAL PRIMARY FOREST LOSS
2002-2025 (million hectares)
Loss to fires
Loss to other drivers
Three-year moving average

2025: 4.3m
hectares lost

6.73

6
5
4
3
2
1
0

2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025*

*Some fire-driven loss may be delayed detection of late season fires in 2024


Sources: AFP, Global Forest Watch, Mongabay, Reuters
Picture: Getty Images
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