Tropical rainforest loss slowed in 2025, but fire is a growing threat to forests worldwide

Policy is slowing forest loss in key tropical countries

Global Forest Watch data shows tropical primary forest loss fell by 36% between 2024 and 2025, largely because extreme fire losses declined after the record-breaking 2024 season. Despite this improvement, the world still lost 4.3 million hectares of tropical primary forest during 2025—equivalent to more than 11 football fields every minute—and annual loss remains 46% higher than a decade ago. Agriculture remained the leading driver of tropical forest loss, while fires continued to increase globally as climate change intensified drought and extreme heat.

Brazil recorded the largest reduction, cutting primary forest loss by 42%, with non-fire losses reaching their lowest level on record. The report attributes improvements to stronger environmental policies, increased law enforcement, renewed anti-deforestation programmes and international forest finance initiatives. Colombia also reduced forest loss through forest concession reforms, Indigenous territorial governance and cattle traceability measures. Indonesia and Malaysia maintained relatively low loss through forest protection policies, moratoriums, fire prevention, sustainable palm oil initiatives and voluntary corporate commitments. However, agricultural expansion, mining and weakening environmental protections continue to threaten long-term progress in several countries.

Commodity expansion drove forest loss in Latin America and Southeast Asia

Commodity production remained a major cause of forest conversion. Bolivia experienced its second-highest primary forest loss on record following extensive fires, while continued expansion of cattle, soy, maize and sorghum contributed to non-fire losses. Peru’s forest loss was driven by cocoa, oil palm and gold mining, while Laos experienced continued clearing linked to rubber, cassava, bananas and other export crops supplying regional markets. The report concludes that persistent economic incentives continue to favour forest conversion despite the environmental value forests provide.

Subsistence needs and governance challenges fueled forest loss in some regions

In parts of the Congo Basin, Madagascar and sections of Southeast Asia, forest loss was driven primarily by subsistence agriculture, fuelwood collection, poverty, population growth and governance challenges rather than industrial commodity production. The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded the third-largest area of tropical primary forest loss globally, with 86% of losses since 2002 linked to shifting cultivation. Conflict, displacement, charcoal production and expanding mining activities further accelerated forest degradation. The report notes that protecting livelihoods while strengthening governance will be essential for reducing future forest loss.

Climate change is increasing threats to forests worldwide

Climate change increasingly amplifies forest loss through hotter temperatures, prolonged droughts and more severe wildfires. Fires accounted for 42% of the world’s 25.5 million hectares of tree cover loss in 2025. Canada experienced its second-worst wildfire season on record, with 5.3 million hectares of tree cover lost, while severe fires also affected Alaska and Southern Europe. France recorded its highest fire-related tree cover loss on record, and around 60% of tree cover loss in Spain and Portugal resulted from fires. The report highlights that repeated fires, insect outbreaks and declining forest resilience threaten forests’ ability to function as long-term carbon sinks.

Accelerating action is essential to halting forest loss by 2030

Although several countries demonstrate that coordinated policy, enforcement and corporate action can substantially reduce forest loss, global deforestation remains 70% above the level required to achieve the international goal of halting and reversing forest loss by 2030. The report concludes that stronger implementation of forest protection policies, financial mechanisms such as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, effective enforcement of regulations including the EU Deforestation Regulation, and improved fire prevention will be necessary to reduce deforestation while balancing agricultural production, economic development and climate resilience.