Biodiversity in Peril as Tropical Deforestation Surges

Biodiversity in peril as tropical deforestation surges

Tropical deforestation hit a new high in 2024, fueled by Amazon wildfires and expanding agriculture. Scientists warn the planet’s richest ecosystems are nearing a tipping point without urgent global action.

Tropical forests destroyed at fastest recorded rate last year

The world’s tropical forests, which provide a crucial buffer againstclimate change, disappeared faster than ever recorded last year, newsatellite analysis suggests. Researchers estimate that 67,000 sq km (26,000sq mi) of these pristine, old-growth forests were lost in 2024 – an areanearly as large as the Republic of Ireland, or 18 football pitches aminute. Fires were the main cause, overtaking land clearances fromagriculture for the first time o…

A new report by scientists from the University of Maryland points out that forests have never been lost as much as during 2024. The biggest problem is the situation in the Amazon, while developments in Southeast Asia represent hope.