The loss of primary forests

Wild Nahani

The loss of primary forests is a global phenomenon with devastating consequences, although the adjective "almost total" could be considered hyperbole, as some still remain in some key areas of the planet. The situation is critical and constantly worsening, with millions of hectares lost every year.

Statistics and Geographic Areas

Remaining surface: Approximately 9% of the ice-free land surface is covered by intact forests.

Ongoing loss: Primary forests continue to diminish at an alarming rate. For example, 11.1 million hectares were lost in the tropics in 2021 alone, and 11 soccer fields per minute in 2022 due to destruction.

Most affected countries: Most of the remaining intact primary forests are in the Amazon (Brazil), Canada, and Russia, but they are also the countries with the greatest losses, along with Bolivia, Indonesia, and Peru.

Main causes

The causes of primary forest loss are multiple and interconnected:

Agricultural conversion: The main cause is the conversion of forests into agricultural land, to make way for intensive monocultures (such as soy and palm oil) and livestock pastures.

Excessive exploitation: Logging, often illegal, significantly contributes to the reduction of green areas.

Forest fires: Fires, often linked to intentional deforestation to clear land, have become more intense and frequent, contributing to a peak in losses in 2024.

Urbanization and infrastructure: Urban expansion and infrastructure construction affect habitat loss.

Climate change: Although it is also a consequence, climate change aggravates forest degradation through extreme weather events and the spread of pests and diseases.

Environmental consequences

The disappearance of primary forests has systemic consequences:

Climate change: Forests are fundamental "CO2 capsules"; their destruction releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Loss of biodiversity: Primary forests are home to approximately 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Their elimination leads to the extinction of countless plant and animal species.

Soil degradation: The lack of tree cover leads to erosion, soil impoverishment, and desertification.

Alteration of hydrological cycles: Forests regulate local and regional water regimes; their loss affects water availability.

The loss of primary forests is one of the most serious threats to the ecological balance of the planet and requires urgent action at the global level, both through the regulation of the trade in agricultural products and with the sustainable management of forest resources.