Global Tree Cover Loss Due to Fires Surged by 370% Compared to 2023

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Global Tree Cover Loss Due to Fires Surged by 370% Compared to 2023

Analysis

According to The 2025 State of the Climate Report: A Planet on the Brink, global tree cover loss reached 29.6 million hectares (Mha) in 2024 — the second highest on record, marking a 4.7% increase over 2023.
Fire-related losses surged by 370% in tropical primary forests in 2024 compared to 2023, largely driven by climate change and El Niño conditions.
3.2 Mha of tropical primary forests were affected by fires in 2024, releasing 3.1 gigatonnes of CO₂, equivalent to 8% of total human-induced emissions that year.
Major wildfire incidents occurred across continents — including the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union — underscoring the climate–fire feedback loop where warming fuels more fires, which in turn release more greenhouse gases.
The report noted public health implications, as wildfire smoke contributes to increased morbidity and mortality globally.
In contrast, deforestation in the Amazon fell by 30% in 2024 — the lowest in nine years — due to stronger enforcement. However, drought-driven fires continued to degrade ecosystems, complicating monitoring efforts.
The Amazon remains under severe threat; 47% of its area could face irreversible disturbances by 2050 due to compounding pressures of climate change and human activity.
The report also linked the biodiversity crisis to climate change, with wildlife populations declining by 73% over the last five decades and over 3,500 species directly threatened.
Coral reefs, another critical ecosystem, continue to face devastation from ocean warming, pollution, and overfishing, impacting livelihoods and global food security.

Static / Conceptual Background

Tropical Primary Forests: Undisturbed, mature, and carbon-dense forests critical for global biodiversity and climate regulation.
Climate Feedback Loop: A process in which a change (like fire-induced CO₂ release) amplifies the original effect (global warming), leading to a self-reinforcing cycle.
El Niño: A climatic phenomenon associated with warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often intensifying global droughts and fire activity.
Critical Ecosystems: Forests and coral reefs are key carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots; their degradation directly contributes to ecological and climate instability.

Updated – 30 Oct 2025 ; 7:07 PM | Down to Earth