Deforestation Accelerating Despite Pledges to Curb Rainforest Loss

Despite global commitments to end deforestation, tropical rainforest loss increased 10% in 2022, releasing billions of tons of carbon dioxide.
Brazil accounted for over 40% of tropical deforestation, losing nearly 2 million hectares of primary forest in 2022 alone.
Indonesia and Malaysia continued progress in reducing deforestation rates, but the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bolivia saw sharp increases in loss of primary forest.
The agriculture industry, driven by cattle ranching and soybean farming, remains the leading cause of deforestation in the tropics.
New policies and economic changes are urgently needed to curb deforestation and transition to more sustainable land-use practices.