Negative record: 8.3 million hectares of forest lost in a single year

O.D.
English Section / 16 octombrie

Negative record: 8.3 million hectares of forest lost in a single year

Versiunea în limba română

Global deforestation reached a worrying level in 2024, according to the report The Forest Declaration Assessment, published by a network of researchers and non-governmental organizations. The document shows that 8.3 million hectares of forest were permanently destroyed last year, equivalent to half the area of England. The report notes a significant increase compared to 2022, when 6.6 million hectares were lost. The situation is all the more serious as more than 140 countries had undertaken, at the UN Conference in Glasgow (2021), to stop deforestation by 2030. Despite international commitments, forest loss continues to accelerate. "The gap between promises and reality is widening every year, with devastating impacts on people, the climate and economies,” said Erin Matson, a researcher at Climate Focus and co-author of the report. Experts warn that the global target of halting deforestation by 2030 risks becoming unattainable unless the current pace is significantly slowed.

Rainforests, the main victims

The most affected are tropical forests, where the expansion of agricultural land, road construction and the exploitation of fuelwood have led to massive destruction.

Even remote regions have been severely affected, the report shows. In Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, wildfires - many of them deliberately started - have devastated millions of hectares.

The Amazon, the epicenter of the ecological crisis

The Amazon region was the scene of massive fires last year, which generated 791 million tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This amount is seven times higher than the annual average of the previous two years and exceeds Germany's total emissions in a year. "The phenomenon is pushing forests closer to a dangerous threshold," warns Ivan Palmegiani, a biodiversity expert.

Reforestation efforts, insufficient

Although several countries have launched reforestation programs, the report shows that only 5.4% of the deforested areas were regenerated last year.

Most actions have taken place in tropical areas, but progress remains modest compared to the scale of losses.

Specialists are calling for rapid international mobilization, substantial financing and firm conservation policies, so that the climate goals assumed in Glasgow do not become simple declarations of intent.

Reader's Opinion

Accord

By writing your opinion here you confirm that you have read the rules below and that you consent to them.

www.agerpres.ro
www.dreptonline.ro
www.hipo.ro

adb