Last year, an area of forest larger than Scotland was cleared. The main reason for deforestation is agriculture.
AFP | Global deforestation has, according to a report by scientists and activists, hardly declined in recent years. “Deforestation has not significantly diminished since the start of the decade,” said co-author Erin Matson on Tuesday. Last year, an area of the world’s forests was cleared that is larger than Scotland.
Despite the promises by more than 140 heads of state at COP climate conference in 2021 to end deforestation by the end of the decade, no meaningful trend reversal has yet been identified, the report said. In 2024, worldwide deforestation stood 3.1 million hectares above the maximum level required to reach the 2030 target.
The most common reason for deforestation is land use for agriculture. “Another important and increasingly significant factor, however, is mining and the extraction of gold, coal and increasingly metals and minerals needed for the transition to renewable energy,” Matson said.
The scientist also expressed optimism about the upcoming World Climate Conference next month in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. “This is the Forest COP. I think there are many opportunities here,” Matson said.
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