Millions of hectares of tropical forest were destroyed in 2025, despite a slowdown in deforestation led by Brazil. Environmental experts say the drop shows governments can curb forest loss, but warn rainforests remain under pressure from agriculture, mining and fires.
Issued on: 15/05/2026 - RFI
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Smoke rises during the deforestation of a new planting area for palm oil plantations in Lamno, Indonesia's Aceh province on 18 January 2026.
AFP - CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN
Tropical regions lost 4.3 million hectares of primary forest during the year, an area roughly the size of Switzerland, figures from Global Forest Watch – run by the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland – showed.
The total was down 36 percent from 2024, when extreme wildfires drove tropical forest destruction to record levels. But forest loss still remained 46 percent higher than it was 10 years ago.
The equivalent of 11 football fields of primary forest continued disappearing every minute, affecting biodiversity, water supplies and carbon storage.
Global Forest Watch said current losses remain far above the level needed to meet the UN goal of ending deforestation by 2030.
Brazil effect
Much of the decline was driven by Brazil, home to the world’s largest rainforest.
Since returning to office in 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made tackling deforestation a political priority.
Brazil also hosted the UN Cop30 climate summit in Belém in November, where rainforest protection was a major focus.
The country reduced primary forest destruction unrelated to fires by 41 percent compared with 2024, reaching its lowest level since records began, after introducing anti-deforestation measures and increasing penalties for environmental crimes.
“The working group established by Brazil with the government, civil society, academia, local communities and the private sector forms a powerful formula for combating deforestation,” Mirela Sandrini, a Brazil specialist at the World Resources Institute, told RFI.
But Sandrini warned that Brazil’s forests remain under threat from agricultural expansion linked to commodity production and livelihoods.
Other countries also reduced tropical forest destruction, including Colombia, while Malaysia and Indonesia kept losses well below previous levels.
Fragile progress
Environmental pressures continue across many forest regions.
Soy farming and cattle ranching in Brazil, nickel mining in Indonesia and cobalt mining in the Congo Basin are all contributing to forest destruction.
Primary forest loss also remained high in Bolivia, Cameroon and Madagascar.
While agriculture remains the main driver of forest destruction worldwide, wildfires also played a major role in 2025, accounting for 42 percent of global forest losses.
“Over the past three years, fires have destroyed more than twice as much forest cover as 20 years ago,” said Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of Global Forest Watch.
While some fires occur naturally, most are caused by humans.
Tropical regions lost 4.3 million hectares of primary forest during the year, an area roughly the size of Switzerland, figures from Global Forest Watch – run by the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland – showed.
The total was down 36 percent from 2024, when extreme wildfires drove tropical forest destruction to record levels. But forest loss still remained 46 percent higher than it was 10 years ago.
The equivalent of 11 football fields of primary forest continued disappearing every minute, affecting biodiversity, water supplies and carbon storage.
Global Forest Watch said current losses remain far above the level needed to meet the UN goal of ending deforestation by 2030.
Brazil launches global fund to reward protection of rainforests
Brazil effect
Much of the decline was driven by Brazil, home to the world’s largest rainforest.
Since returning to office in 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made tackling deforestation a political priority.
Brazil also hosted the UN Cop30 climate summit in Belém in November, where rainforest protection was a major focus.
The country reduced primary forest destruction unrelated to fires by 41 percent compared with 2024, reaching its lowest level since records began, after introducing anti-deforestation measures and increasing penalties for environmental crimes.
“The working group established by Brazil with the government, civil society, academia, local communities and the private sector forms a powerful formula for combating deforestation,” Mirela Sandrini, a Brazil specialist at the World Resources Institute, told RFI.
But Sandrini warned that Brazil’s forests remain under threat from agricultural expansion linked to commodity production and livelihoods.
Other countries also reduced tropical forest destruction, including Colombia, while Malaysia and Indonesia kept losses well below previous levels.
Fragile progress
Environmental pressures continue across many forest regions.
Soy farming and cattle ranching in Brazil, nickel mining in Indonesia and cobalt mining in the Congo Basin are all contributing to forest destruction.
Primary forest loss also remained high in Bolivia, Cameroon and Madagascar.
While agriculture remains the main driver of forest destruction worldwide, wildfires also played a major role in 2025, accounting for 42 percent of global forest losses.
“Over the past three years, fires have destroyed more than twice as much forest cover as 20 years ago,” said Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of Global Forest Watch.
While some fires occur naturally, most are caused by humans.
Fire threat
Wildfires were especially severe in Canada, where 5.3 million hectares were destroyed, making 2025 the country’s second-worst year on record.
In France, forest destruction caused by fires was seven times higher than in 2024.
In Spain and Portugal, fires caused 60 percent of tree losses as hotter and drier conditions increased the risk of wildfire.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that in a world warmed by 4C, fires could become around 30 percent more frequent, with burned areas expanding by 50 to 70 percent.
Global Forest Watch warned 2026 could become “a pivotal year” if the El Nino weather pattern returns and pushes temperatures even higher.
(with newswires)
Wildfires were especially severe in Canada, where 5.3 million hectares were destroyed, making 2025 the country’s second-worst year on record.
In France, forest destruction caused by fires was seven times higher than in 2024.
In Spain and Portugal, fires caused 60 percent of tree losses as hotter and drier conditions increased the risk of wildfire.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that in a world warmed by 4C, fires could become around 30 percent more frequent, with burned areas expanding by 50 to 70 percent.
Global Forest Watch warned 2026 could become “a pivotal year” if the El Nino weather pattern returns and pushes temperatures even higher.
(with newswires)
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