Overview

• Global forest loss surged to a record 30 million hectares in 2024, with wildfires responsible for nearly half of the destruction.
• Tropical primary forest loss doubled to 6.7 million hectares, the highest in over two decades, driven by extreme drought and heat linked to climate change and El Niño.
• Brazil experienced its worst year since 2016, losing 2.8 million hectares of primary forest, two-thirds of which were fire-related, amid its most severe drought on record.
• Wildfires globally emitted an estimated 4.1 gigatons of CO₂ in 2024, exacerbating the climate crisis and creating a dangerous fire–climate feedback loop.
• While forest loss increased in most regions, Indonesia and Malaysia reported declines due to strengthened fire prevention measures and stricter forest policies.