Forest loss declined, driven largely by Brazil — but overall loss remains high as fires pose a rising threat, according to annual analysis from WRI’s Global Forest Watch.WASHINGTON, D.C. (29 April, 2026) — Tropical rainforest loss fell 36% in 2025 from the record high of 2024, according to new data from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab, available on World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform and Global Nature Watch.The findings suggest that strong policies and enforcement can curb forest loss. However, climate-driven fires are a dangerous new normal, threatening to reverse recent gains.In 2025, the world lost 4.3 million hectares (10.6 million acres) of tropical primary rainforest, an area roughly the size of Denmark. Despite the decline, loss remains 46% higher than a decade ago, with primary forests disappearing at a rate of 11 football (soccer) fields every minute.’A drop of this scale in a single year is encouraging — it shows what decisive government action can achieve,’ said Elizabeth Goldman, Co-Director of Global Forest Watch, World Resources Institute. ‘But part of the decline reflects a lull after an extreme fire year. Fires and climate change are feeding off each other, and with El Niño on the horizon for 2026, investments in prevention and response will be critical as extreme fire conditions become the norm.’Despite recent progress, global forest loss remains far above the level required to meet the 2030 goal of halting and reversing forest loss, a commitment made by more than 140 countries under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration. Current levels are about 70% too high.Tropical primary forests are vital for climate stability, biodiversity and the millions who depend on them for food, income and protection from extreme weather. Their loss releases vast amounts of carbon and weakens one of the planet’s most important natural defenses against climate change.Policy Progress Drives Declines in Key CountriesMuch of the global reduction was driven by Brazil, home to the world’s largest rainforest. In 2025, Brazil cut non-fire primary forest loss by 41% compared to 2024, reaching its lowest level on record.The decline coincides with stronger environmental policies and enforcement under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, including the relaunch of the PPCDAm federal anti-deforestation plan and increased penalties for environmental crimes.Although Brazil still has the largest absolute area of primary forest loss due to its size, its rate relative to forest area (0.5%) is now lower than several other tropical countries.’Brazil’s progress shows what’s possible when forest protection is treated as a national priority,’ said Mirela Sandrini, Executive Director, WRI Brasil. ‘But Brazil’s landscape is becoming more flammable, and growing fire risk means enforcement alone won’t be enough. Protecting these gains will require scaling community-led prevention and building an economy that rewards standing forests.’Other countries also showed progress. Indonesia and Malaysia maintained relatively low rates of primary forest loss, while Colombia reversed a spike seen in 2024. Progress in these countries reflected improved governance, recognition of Indigenous land rights and corporate commitments to deforestation-free production.’Indonesia managed to keep forest loss largely under control in recent years, supported by policies that limit new forest clearing and give communities greater rights to manage forests,’ said Arief Wijaya, Managing Director, WRI Indonesia. ‘That shows a strong commitment to more sustainable land use. But rising economic pressures could test that progress — and whether it can hold under pressure will depend on how well growth is balanced with climate and nature.’‘Colombia’s story is one of fragile progress: deforestation slowed not because pressure eased, but because governance held the line’, said Joaquín Carrizosa, Senior Advisor, WRI Colombia. ‘2026 will be the real test — without sustained enforcement and economic alternatives to clearing forests, this progress could quickly reverse. There’s a credible path to lasting change: increase investment in protecting the Amazon, back Indigenous leadership and build local economies that rely on forests staying intact.’Fires Emerge as a Growing Global ThreatWhile agricultural expansion remains the leading driver of tree cover loss overall, fires were a major contributor in 2025, accounting for 42% of the 25.5 million hectares (63.1 million acres) of tree cover loss worldwide, an area slightly larger than the United Kingdom.Climate change is increasing fire risk by creating hotter, drier conditions that allow fires to spread more easily. In turn, these fires release vast amounts of stored carbon, accelerating climate change and reinforcing a dangerous feedback loop.While fire risk is growing in the tropics — where most fires are human-caused — the most visible impacts in 2025 were in boreal and temperate regions, where climate change is intensifying naturally occurring fire cycles.Fire-driven loss was especially severe in Canada, where wildfires burned 5.3 million hectares (13.0 million acres), making 2025 the country’s second-worst fire year on record. Significant fires were also recorded in parts of southern Europe.’Climate change and land clearing have shortened the fuse on global forest fires,’ said Matthew Hansen, Professor at the University of Maryland and GLAD Lab Director. ‘They are turning seasonal disturbances into a near-permanent state of emergency. Without urgent action to stopburning and manage fire more effectively, we risk pushing the world’s most important forests past recovery.’Loss Remains High in Other RegionsForest loss remained high in countries including Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Peru, Laos and Madagascar. Drivers vary by region, but include agricultural expansion, mining, fire and local reliance on forests for food and fuel.Bolivia recorded its second-highest level of primary forest loss on record after severe fires in 2024 and now ranks second for tropical primary forest loss — surpassing the Democratic Republic of the Congo despite Bolivia having 60% less primary forest.’In Bolivia, as in many other countries, forest loss is closely tied to agricultural expansion, with fire often used to clear and prepare land for production,’ said Stasiek Czaplicki Cabezas, a Bolivian researcher and data journalist for Revista Nómadas. ‘Those ties keep pressure on forests persistently high. Breaking this cycle will require tighter controls on fire and hard restrictions on land conversion in forest areas.’In the Congo Basin, primary forest loss continues in several countries. In the DRC, total loss dipped slightly in 2025, but non-fire loss hit a record high, largely linked to small-scale farming, firewood and charcoal production, conflict-related displacement, and pressure from mining.’There’s progress in parts of the Congo Basin, but in others deforestation remains alarmingly high,’ said Teodyl Nkuintchua, Congo Basin Strategy and Engagement Lead, WRI Africa. ‘Mining is a far greater indirect driver of deforestation than previously recognized, and forest loss is happening even in community-managed areas. Support and investment are essential to making community forest management viable and enabling Indigenous Peoples and local communities to meet their basic needs.’Scaling Action to Get on Track for 2030Meeting global forest goals will depend not only on sustained political leadership and investment, but also on how key policy and financial developments unfold — including whether the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) secures sufficient funding and how effectively regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are implemented and enforced.’The progress we’re seeing in countries like Brazil and Colombia is heartening — but far from assured,’ said Rod Taylor, Global Director of Forests, World Resources Institute. ‘These are inspiring examples of what can be done to curb deforestation, but also a reminder of how much the fate of our forests hinges on political will and the resilience that can be built now in the face of a changing climate.’2026 will put that to the test — with El Niño likely to intensify fire risk and national elections in several forest countries poised to shape whether progress continues.Technological Innovation on the HorizonNext year, the release of the tree cover loss data will be fully integrated into Global Nature Watch, WRI’s AI-powered platform built on peer-reviewed research from Global Forest Watch and Land & Carbon Lab. With a simple, chat-style interface, it makes complex land data easy to explore.Over the coming year, Global Nature Watch will expand to deliver the full depth of analysis and country-level insight that users rely on today from Global Forest Watch, making vast amounts of data more accessible, timely and actionable than ever before.’Last year’s progress in reducing forest loss shows what’s possible, but with El Niño set to raise the stakes, now is the moment to double down and turn gains into lasting protection,’ said Dr. Kelly Levin, Chief of Science, Data and Systems Change at the Bezos Earth Fund, a founding partner of Global Nature Watch. ‘With tree cover loss data available through Global Nature Watch, it will be easier for people working to protect and restore nature to spot change earlier and respond with confidence.’About the annual Tree Cover Loss data analysis World Resource Institute’s Global Forest Watch provides annual analysis of global tree cover loss, showing when and where forests are disappearing. The data — produced by the GLAD (Global Land Analysis & Discovery) Lab at the University of Maryland — captures changes at approximately 30 × 30-meter resolution across all global land areas, except Antarctica and other Arctic islands.Learn more about the tree cover loss data methodology and how it compares with other official deforestation estimates.This year the data will also be available on Global Nature Watch, an open, AI-powered system developed by WRI that combines peer-reviewed research from Global Forest Watch and Land & Carbon Lab in a simple, chat-style interface.Notes to Editors:Media Contact:For more information, or to request the full dataset, graphics and analysis, please contact:Darla van Hoorn ([email protected])Sophie Brady ([email protected])Kaitlyn Thayer ([email protected]).About World Resources Institute WRI works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.About Global Forest Watch Global Forest Watch (GFW) provides data and tools for monitoring forests and insights on where and why they are changing. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, GFW allows anyone to access near real-time information about where and how forests are changing around the world. Since its launch in 2014, over 9 million people have visited GFW from 170+ countries.About University of Maryland GLAD LabThe Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) laboratory in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland investigates methods, causes and impacts of global land surface change. Earth observation imagery are the primary data source and land cover extent and change the primary topic of interest. The lab is led by Dr. Matthew Hansen. The research team is diverse with representation from the following countries: USA, China, Brazil, Cameroon, Pakistan, India, Ghana, DRCongo, Russia, Colombia. Full-time researchers work on a variety of land cover investigations, ranging from global forest change to national-scale crop type area mapping and estimation. Find UMD GLAD on LinkedIn.