Global Forest Watch 2025: Fires as Leading Cause of DeforestationBY ERIKA LOH
- 6 June 2025
- Posted by: Competere
- Categories: highlights, News, Sustainable Oils & Fats
The new report by Global Forest Watch and the GLAD lab at the University of Maryland sounds an unprecedented alarm: in 2024, the world lost 6.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest. This is the worst figure in the past twenty years and represents a major setback in the global fight against deforestation.
The numbers are staggering: 18 football fields per minute were lost in 2024 – nearly double the previous year. This loss resulted in 3.1 Gt of greenhouse gas emissions. Primary forests, essential for biodiversity, climate stability, and the livelihoods of millions of people, remain a fragile yet indispensable stronghold.
THE GROWING ROLE OF FIRES
In 2024, fires became the leading cause of tropical deforestation, surpassing permanent agriculture for the first time in over two decades. Fueled by record temperatures and droughts linked to El Niño and climate change, the fires burned five times more primary forest than the previous year.
Latin America was particularly affected, wiping out the progress made in 2023 in countries like Brazil and Colombia. In contrast, Indonesia and Malaysia – major palm oil producers – managed to contain forest loss compared to past years, confirming the positive trend seen over the past decade.
INDONESIA
One of the few bright spots comes from Indonesia, which saw an 11% decline in primary forest loss compared to 2023. Thanks to late rains, private sector efforts, and public prevention policies, fires remained under control despite dry conditions.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia also showed encouraging signs, with a 13% reduction in primary forest loss. For the first time, the country dropped out of the top 10 areas with the highest forest loss, confirming a positive trend compared to its peak a decade ago.
GUATEMALA
In Guatemala, after years of significantly reduced deforestation rates, 2024 saw a slight increase in primary forest loss, 2.7% nationally, mainly due to fires. Agricultural pressures, including unregulated livestock farming and informal settlements – sometimes linked to organized crime networks – also contributed, though to a lesser extent.
COLOMBIA
A concerning reversal occurred in Colombia, where primary forest loss increased by 50%. After progress in 2023, 2024 saw renewed instability, with violence and illegal activities such as mining and coca cultivation particularly impacting indigenous communities. It is essential to strengthen territorial peace and offer alternative livelihoods to stop deforestation.
A WORRYING GLOBAL OUTLOOK
The 2025 report sends a clear message: current efforts are not enough. The record-breaking losses of 2024 show how quickly progress can be undone by climate crises and political instability.
At the same time, the results from Indonesia and Malaysia demonstrate that targeted policies, private sector engagement, and community participation can work. In a world increasingly affected by climate change, protecting tropical forests is not just an ecological priority, but a global strategic necessity.