{"id":167635,"date":"2024-04-11T12:10:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T11:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=167635"},"modified":"2024-04-12T11:31:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T10:31:38","slug":"global-forest-watch-deforestation-reduced-in-some-countries-increased-in-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/news\/global-forest-watch-deforestation-reduced-in-some-countries-increased-in-others\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Forest Watch: deforestation reduced in some countries, increased in others"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While in some countries deforestation rates are declining, overall global forest loss remains high, a new report by Global Forest Watch<\/a> finds. As a result of changes in administration, forest loss have significantly decreased in Brazil and Colombia over the past year. However, frontiers of deforestation are shifting, and countries such as Bolivia and Laos experienced dramatic increases in forest loss. Overall, 3.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest was lost in 2023.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Header photo: Valle de Cocora, Colombia \u00a9<\/strong> Nicolas Pratlong<\/a> via Unsplash <\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Positive signs from Brazil and Colombia<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The cases of Brazil and Colombia show the significance of government policy for reducing deforestation. After years of environmentally destructive leadership under President Bolsonaro, Brazil is finally seeing a decrease in deforestation under President Lula, whose administration has been marked by the revoking of anti-environmental measures and the recognition of new Indigenous territories, among other things. Although forest loss remains higher than its low point in the early 2010s, these policies have had a massive positive impact on Brazil\u2019s forests, with 39% less primary forest loss in 2023 compared to 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Although deforestation heavily increased after Colombia\u2019s peace agreement with FARC in 2016, recent years have shown a change. Under the leadership of President Gustavo Petro Urrego, who has been leading the country since 2022, there are signs that forest loss has started to decrease: in 2023 primary forest loss has declined with 49%, compared to 2022. Nevertheless, the surging global demand for commodities such as beef, palm oil, gold, and illicit crops continue to trigger deforestation and forest crime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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