Tropical rainforest loss drops 36% in 2025 but remains at alarming rate
On Wednesday, researchers reported that while the destruction of tropical rainforests decreased in 2025 following unprecedented losses in 2024, it still occurred at alarming rates, equivalent to 11 football fields every minute. According to the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland, 4.3 million hectares of primary rainforest were lost last year, representing a 36% reduction from 2024. Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of WRI's Global Forest Watch, described the decline as promising, yet emphasized that it may be a temporary respite after a year marked by severe fires. Experts cautioned that climate change-driven fires are becoming a concerning norm that could undermine governmental progress, with the El Niño phenomenon anticipated to return mid-year, increasing risks of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.
Key facts
- Tropical primary rainforest loss dropped 36% in 2025 compared to 2024
- 4.3 million hectares of primary rainforest were lost in 2025
- Loss rate equivalent to 11 football fields per minute
- Data from World Resources Institute and University of Maryland
- Elizabeth Goldman is co-director of WRI's Global Forest Watch
- Decline partly attributed to a lull after an extreme fire year
- Climate change-fueled fires described as a dangerous new normal
- El Niño expected to return in mid-2025, increasing wildfire risk
Entities
Institutions
- World Resources Institute
- University of Maryland
- Global Forest Watch