New research reveals that despite a political pledge made by world leaders at COP26 to end deforestation, an area of tropical forest equivalent to the size of Switzerland was lost in 2022, with Brazil leading the destruction. The pledge made at the climate conference aimed to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, with leaders from countries covering 85% of global forests signing on. However, the analysis conducted by Global Forest Watch shows that the promise made in Glasgow is not being fulfilled.
The loss of tropical primary (old-growth) forests is particularly concerning due to their role in absorbing greenhouse gases and maintaining biodiversity. The clearance and burning of these forests release stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Moreover, these forests provide crucial ecosystem services and support the livelihoods of millions of people. The new data from the University of Maryland reveals that in 2022, the tropics experienced a 10% increase in the loss of primary rainforest compared to the previous year, amounting to over 4 million hectares (nearly 16,000 square miles) being felled or burned. The carbon dioxide emissions resulting from this deforestation were equivalent to India's annual fossil fuel emissions.
Brazil is the primary driver of forest losses, with a 14% increase in deforestation rates in 2022. Amazonas state, home to over half of Brazil's intact forests, has witnessed a doubling of deforestation rates over the past three years. Despite these alarming trends, some positive developments indicate that it is possible to curb deforestation. Indonesia has successfully reduced its loss of primary tropical forests in recent years through government and corporate actions. Efforts to monitor and restrict fires and the establishment of a permanent moratorium on logging in new palm oil plantations have contributed to this achievement.
However, there are countries where deforestation rates have accelerated. Bolivia, which did not sign the Glasgow Declaration, experienced a nearly one-third increase in forest losses in 2022, driven by commodity agriculture and soybean expansion. Ghana saw a significant 71% rise in deforestation, mostly occurring in protected areas and in close proximity to existing cocoa farms. The urgency to address deforestation is critical to keep global temperatures below the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold. If forests are lost, recovery becomes extremely challenging. The commitment of Brazil's new president to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 brings hope for progress, but time is running short. Urgent action on forests is necessary, even more so than reducing carbon emissions, as forests are irrecoverable assets once lost.
Measuring deforestation involves analyzing satellite images to monitor tree cover loss. However, distinguishing human-caused, permanent removal of natural forest cover from losses due to fires, disease, or storms can be challenging. The latest data indicates a 3.6% increase in global deforestation in 2022 compared to the previous year, contrary to the goals set in Glasgow. Although overall tree cover loss from all causes decreased by nearly 10% in 2022, primarily due to a decline in forest fires, this is not considered a long-term trend.
In conclusion, despite global pledges to halt deforestation, the rate of forest loss remains alarming, posing a significant threat to climate goals and biodiversity conservation. Urgent action is required to reverse this trend, as the irreversible loss of forests undermines efforts to mitigate climate change and protect vital ecosystems.
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