Tropical Forest Loss Declines in 2025

Global tropical rainforest destruction slowed in 2025, according to new satellite data from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the University of Maryland, as reported by BBC News. The loss of old-growth tropical forests fell by approximately 36%, with about 4.3 million hectares lost globally — roughly equivalent to the size of Denmark.

The decline was largely attributed to Brazil's efforts to curb deforestation in the Amazon, as well as cooler La Niña conditions that helped reduce the unprecedented fires seen in 2024. TimesLIVE and Reuters highlighted Brazil’s stronger environmental policies under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which contributed to a significant reduction in deforestation.

However, despite this progress, the loss of tropical forests remains alarmingly high compared to a decade ago. Scientists warn that climate change and the impending El Niño weather pattern could increase the likelihood and severity of forest fires later this year. Al Jazeera noted that last year’s forest loss was still 46% higher than it was ten years ago, underscoring the ongoing challenges.

The global commitment to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, pledged at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, remains off track. Agricultural expansion continues to be a major driver of deforestation worldwide, with countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo facing significant pressures from farming and logging.