The Deforestation Fronts report offers an in-depth analysis of 24 ‘deforestation fronts’ around the globe. Nine of these clusters of deforestation hotspots are located in Latin America, while eight can be found in sub-Saharan Africa and the remaining seven in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The Brazilian Amazon
Detailed information on each front is available in the individual factsheets, but here are a few of the findings:
– one of the largest tropic forests – is threatened by forest conversion. While deforestation was significantly reduced in the past, it is now growing at a record rate due to the influence of recent policy shifts. Studies show that the Amazon forest is close to a tipping point since the forest won't be able to keep itself alive, and large sections will suffer from reduced rainfall and longer dry seasons.
The Gran Chaco
– shared by
Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil – has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. Agriculture is a major driver, particularly genetically modified soy production and large-scale cattle ranching.
The Brazilian Cerrado
– which covers over 200 million hectares – is the world’s most biodiverse savannah. If deforestation in this region continues, consequences could include reduced rain, increased temperatures, and threats to Brazil's water systems, as the Cerrado is the source of eight of the country’s 12 river basins.
In West Africa
, forests in Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana, are under pressure not only from the expansion of commercial agriculture and mining, but also from commercial logging, and fuelwood and charcoal use.
's forests are under growing pressure from agriculture, uncontrolled fires, and destruction to produce wood and charcoal for fuel.
forests are under intense pressure associated with a growing population, illegal logging, and land concessions.
, millions of people rely on the forests for their livelihoods, but they are under threat from the expansion of commercial agriculture, logging and infrastructure developments.
In Eastern Australia
, nearly half of the original forested area has been lost. The once vast brigalow and grassy box forests of inland eastern Australia are now endangered or critically endangered. Over 700 native plant and animal species are threatened by forest habitat destruction, including the iconic koala. Clearing for pasture for livestock is a major driver of deforestation, while recent unprecedented fires are also having an impact, particularly of the unique Gondwanan relict rainforests.