Climate Change: Record Tree Losses in Northern Regions

Boreal forests - those found chiefly in Canada, Alaska and Russia - saw record tree losses in 2021. According to an analysis of Global Forest Watch data by the World Resources Institute, 8.6 million hectares of tree cover ceased to be last year, something which researchers are blaming mainly on the effects of climate change. More specifically, the devastating fires which devastated the boreal forests of Russia in 2021.

"While fires are a natural part of boreal forest ecosystems, larger, more intense fires are worrying. Hotter, drier weather related to climate change has led to fire-prone conditions, drier peatlands and melted permafrost. Siberia’s vast peatland area - the largest in the world - stores massive amounts of carbon, which is released into the atmosphere when peat dries up."

Despite experiencing a slight decrease in 2021, the largest amount of tree loss was seen in tropical climates. As reported by the source, "tropical primary forest loss in 2021 resulted in 2.5 Gt of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual fossil fuel emissions of India."