In Data: Fires are accelerating global forest loss – Context News

Report on Increasing Wildfires and Forest Degradation in Tropical Regions

Context and Overview

In recent years, record-breaking heatwaves and droughts have led to a surge in wildfires, devastating forests worldwide. This alarming trend poses significant challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Record Wildfires in the Amazon

In 2024, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, resulting in wildfires that affected more than 6.7 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. This figure is more than double the previous record and represents the highest extent of fire damage recorded by MapBiomas since 1985.

• The Amazon fire season begins in July, raising concerns among authorities and scientists about accelerating wildfire frequency.
• Research indicates that tropical forests in South America and other humid tropical areas have become more flammable compared to the previous century.
• Brazil’s acting Minister of Environment, João Paulo Capobianco, highlighted the vulnerability of tropical forests due to climate change impacts.

Climate Change and Forest Degradation

Climate change and forest degradation have emerged as leading causes of global forest loss, affecting both tropical and cooler regions. The year 2024 saw record temperatures that intensified drought conditions and wildfires across continents, including Canada, California, and South America.

1. Brazil and Bolivia accounted for two-thirds of the record tropical forest loss of 6.7 million hectares in 2024, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).
2. WRI data shows that 94% of global forest loss this century has occurred in tropical areas, emphasizing the critical need for sustainable forest management aligned with SDG 15.
3. Forest degradation reduces the ability of forests to perform essential ecosystem functions such as carbon storage and water regulation, directly impacting SDG 13 and SDG 6.

Human Activities and Fire Dynamics

In humid tropical regions like the Amazon and Congo Basin, wildfires rarely occur naturally. Instead, they are often intentionally set by farmers and land-grabbers to clear land for agriculture, exacerbating forest degradation and climate vulnerability.

• As forests degrade and climates become drier and warmer, land clearing becomes easier, creating a vicious cycle of increased fire risk.
• For the first time in 2024, fire was the leading cause of forest loss in the Amazon, undermining conservation efforts and the enforcement of environmental policies.

Recent Data and Future Outlook

Data from the Brazilian research institute Imazon revealed that fires in 2024 caused annual forest degradation in the Amazon to increase sixfold, reaching 3.6 million hectares—the highest level since 2009.

1. Temperatures are projected to continue rising, suggesting that wildfire risks will persist or worsen.
2. Scientific studies indicate that burned forests become more susceptible to subsequent fires due to loss of canopy shade and accumulation of deadwood.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The increase in wildfires and forest degradation accelerates carbon emissions, undermining global climate mitigation efforts.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Forest loss threatens biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Forest degradation disrupts water cycles and quality, impacting water availability and sanitation.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Land clearing for agriculture through fire may provide short-term gains but risks long-term soil degradation and food security.

Conclusion

The escalating frequency and intensity of wildfires in tropical forests represent a critical environmental challenge with far-reaching impacts on sustainable development. Addressing these issues requires integrated policies and actions that align with the SDGs, focusing on climate resilience, forest conservation, and sustainable land management to safeguard the planet’s vital ecosystems.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action – The article discusses the impact of climate change on increasing temperatures, droughts, and wildfires, emphasizing the need for urgent climate action.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land – The focus on forest loss, degradation, and wildfires in tropical rainforests such as the Amazon directly relates to protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The article mentions land clearing by farmers and land-grabbers, implying unsustainable land use practices that contribute to deforestation and forest degradation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13 – Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
2. SDG 15 – Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.
3. SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Forest Area Lost (SDG 15.2.1) – The article provides data on forest loss in hectares (e.g., 6.7 million hectares in Brazil in 2024), which is a key indicator for measuring deforestation and forest degradation.
2. Forest Degradation Area – The increase in forest degradation to 3.6 million hectares in Brazil’s Amazon is an implied indicator of ecosystem health and forest condition.
3. Frequency and Extent of Wildfires – The article discusses wildfire occurrences and their increasing frequency and intensity, which can be used as an indicator of climate impact and forest vulnerability.
4. Temperature Records and Drought Incidence – Record-breaking temperatures and droughts are mentioned as drivers of forest fires, serving as climate-related indicators linked to SDG 13 targets.
5. Land Use Change due to Agriculture and Land-Grabbing – The mention of land clearing by farmers and land-grabbers implies indicators related to land use change and sustainable land management.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: context.news