Context: Deforestation continued last year at a rate far beyond pledges to end the practice by 2030, according to a major study published.
Data points:
- Forest loss: Approximately 15.7 million acres of forests, nearly the size of Ireland, were destroyed in 2023 due to deforestation.
- Impact on biodiversity: Forests are vital for 80% of the world’s terrestrial plant and animal species, as well as crucial for regulating water cycles and sequestering CO2, a primary greenhouse gas driving global warming.
- Tropical forest loss: Around 9.1 million acres of tropical primary forest — rich in carbon and biodiversity — were destroyed, indicating a significant deviation from the 2030 global deforestation goals.
- Global commitments: Despite the 2021 pledge by over 140 leaders to end deforestation by 2030, the rate of deforestation continues to exceed targets, undermining global commitments.
- Regional insights:
- Bolivia: Deforestation in Bolivia rose by 351% between 2015 and 2023, showing a drastic increase in forest destruction.
- Indonesia: Although deforestation decreased between 2020-2022, it sharply increased again in 2023, highlighting a worrying reversal in progress.
Relevance to UPSC Syllabus
- General Studies Paper III (Environment and Ecology): Topics on biodiversity conservation, climate change, and environmental degradation.
- General Studies Paper II (Governance): Role of international environmental agreements and global cooperation in mitigating deforestation.
- Essay Paper: Topics on sustainable development, global environmental challenges, and the impact of deforestation on climate and ecosystems.
