Wildfires drove record tropical forest loss globally

Global tropical forest loss reached a record high in 2024, primarily due to a surge in wildfires, a consequence of rising global temperatures. Approximately 6.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest were destroyed last year, nearly doubling the loss from 2023, with wildfires becoming the leading cause of deforestation. The Amazon Basin suffered significant devastation from an unprecedented drought. This record loss highlights the urgent need for global efforts to reduce emissions and protect forests, as continued deforestation threatens to worsen climate change and biodiversity loss.