Latin America in fire: The registration fires recorded millions of hectares of tropical forests in 2024

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The world lost a Forest record in 2024Supported by A catastrophic increase in fires. The new happy laboratory data of the University of Maryland, available on the global forest monitoring platform of the International Institute of Resources (WRI), shows that the loss of tropical initial forests alone. It reached 6.7 million hectares last yearThis was weak in 2023 and a surface of the size of Panama. This involves the loss of about 18 football fields every 18 minutes.

For the first time since there were records, fires, And not agriculture, It was the main cause of this loss, which represents nearly half of the destruction. In 2024, they burned five times a tropical initial forests more than 2023. Latin America was particularly affected. In total, these fires released 4.1 GB of greenhouse gases, more than four times emissions from all air transport in 2023.

“This level of forest loss It does not seem that anything we have seen in more than 20 years of data“Elizabeth Goldman says, participating in WRI’s global forest control.” It is a global red alert, a collective invitation to work for all countries, all companies and all people who care about a good planet. Our economies, our societies, our health, none of which can survive without forests. “

The extremist climate feeds tropical forest fires

Despite forest fires They are natural in some ecosystemsIn the tropical areas they are Because of the man mainly. Fires usually begin for agricultural causes or to prepare new areas for agriculture.

Last year it was The most heated everWith harsh conditions such as the dangerous generalization of climate change and the climate phenomenon in the Nino. Some countries, especially those in Latin America, suffered in 2024 You have the worst drought. According to the report, these conditions made fires more intense and difficult to control many parts of the world.

Although some forests can recover from these fires, the common pressure to transform lands and climate change This recovery makes it difficult. It also creates a reactions that increase the possibility of future fires.

What countries will lose more forests in 2024?

BrazilWhich will host the COP30 Climate Conference at the end of this year, It lost the largest tropical forest surface in 2024According to the data. In total, it represented 42 % of the total tropical forest loss last year. Fire, fed by the worst recorded drought In the country, they caused 66 % of that loss. Other causes, such as soybeans and livestock cultivation, increased by 13 %, much lower than the maximum registered in the early first decade of the twentieth century.

“Brazil applied under the presidency of LulaMariana Oliveira, director of the forest and the use of WRI Brazil, says the threat of forests is continuing.

Without a continuous investment in the prevention of community fires, a more rigorous application of the law at the state level A approach to sustainable use of the landAchievements made with great effort at risk of being lost. “

Forest loss as well A 200 % shot in Bolivia last yearUp to 1.5 million hectares. For the first time in history, he stood second behind Brazil, bypassing the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC), although there are less than half of the forest area.

Stasiek CZAPAPPII CABEZAS, Bolivian researcher and data journalist from “Nomadas”, confirms that 2024 fires “They left deep scars“Not only on the ground but for those who depend on it.” The damage may take centuries to get rid of it. “

Despite the decline in the classification, RDC recorded The highest levels of initial forest loss It was never recorded, with a 150 % increase compared to 2023. Like Amazon, the Congo Basin works as Cross carbon basinBut the increase in fires and forest loss now threatens its vital function.

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in Colombia There was also an increase in Nearly 50 % in the first forest lossBut the fires were not the main cause. Instability caused by Peace talks torn This led to the growth of activities such as illegal mining and the production of coca (the main component of cocaine).

Fire also causes forest loss elsewhere

An increase in forest loss It spanned beyond the tropical regions in 2024With an increase of 5 % in the total losing cover of trees all over the world compared to 2023. Last year, it lost 30 million hectares, a similar area to the Italy region.

It was an intensive extinguishing season in Russia and Canada partially Responsible for this increase. Although forest fires are part of the natural dynamics of these areas, In recent years, they were more intense and durableWho reduced the time to recover the tree cover.

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Research has shown that these northern forests They are increasingly vulnerable to dehydration And fires due to climate change, which creates a reaction ring from Fire exacerbation and carbon emissions. Last year, for the first time since the Global Forest Watch began bringing the records, fires were produced in tropical areas and in the northern forests.

This data must be shaken from our self -contract

In the report Not everything is bad newsBecause some countries have made progress in such a difficult year. In Indonesia, for example, primary forest loss has been reduced by 11 %. The efforts of former President Goku Widodo L. Restore the land and stop fires They helped maintain fire rates, even in general drought.

Ariet Wijia, the administrative director of the Wrie Indonesia novel, says that although the removal of forests is still a source of concern, They are proud that it was one of the few countries In reducing the loss of initial forests in 2024, “We hope that the current administration can maintain the motivation.”

also Malaysia recorded a 13 % decrease He first left the group of ten countries with the largest tropical forests loss. Leaders of more than 140 countries signed Glasgow leaders statement In 2021, He promised to stop and reverse forest loss by 2030. To do this, the world needs to reduce the removal of forests by 20 % every year from now on.

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But we are far from fulfilling this commitment: Among the 20 countries with the top of the primary forest, 17 today have a loss in the initial forests compared to the signing of the agreement. According to the authors of the report, It is necessary to enhance fire preventionCreate supply chains free from forest removal, imposing commercial regulations and increase forest protection financing, especially through original initiatives.

The maps fee shows that one of these initiatives, the newly created protected area Charrajoa Lambay de BoliviaHe kept the fires in 2024.

Its investments in Early warning systems The application of land use policies helped avoid spread while the forest is burning around the second year in a row. A testimony of what fire prevention can do by the indigenous population.

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“The two countries have been repeatedly committed Stop removing forests and forest deterioration“Kelly Levin, head of data science and changing the Bizos Earth Fund systems.

However, the data reveals Note gap between promises The progress made, along with the increasing influence of global warming. Self -relaxation should be shaken. “