Climate Changed
Deforestation Wipes Out an Area the Size of Belgium
The destruction of rainforests critical to fighting climate change isn’t slowing, but the biggest rates of decline are now in Africa and Latin America.
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest.
Photographer: Antonio Scorza/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The world’s old-growth rainforests are shrinking at an alarming rate, with enough trees lost last year to cover all of Belgium or two Connecticuts, a new report shows.
Tropical rainforests are found mainly in Equatorial countries, but they store vast amounts of carbon dioxide, so keeping them intact is crucial to fighting global climate change. In addition, they are home to a broad range of species, including orangutans, mountain gorillas and tigers.