Wildfires fuelled record tropical forest loss in 2024

The destruction of the world’s tropical forests soared to a record high in 2024, with new data revealing a dramatic surge in fire-related deforestation largely driven by escalating global temperatures.

The data reveals an estimated 6.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest were lost last year — nearly double the area destroyed in 2023. The scale of the loss is staggering, equating to approximately 18 football fields of forest disappearing every minute.

In a troubling first, wildfires surpassed agricultural land clearing as the primary driver of tropical deforestation. The Amazon Basin was particularly devastated, as the region endured an unprecedented drought that created the perfect conditions for widespread, uncontrolled blazes.

The data underscores growing urgency for global action to curb emissions and bolster forest protection efforts, as scientists warn that continued deforestation could further accelerate climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.