Indonesia Among Top Countries Losing Tropical Primary Forests in 2023

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reports that a total of 3.7 million hectares (mha) of global tropical primary forest were lost in 2023. This volume is equivalent to nearly 10 football fields per minute.

"Although this represents a 9% decrease from 2022, the 2023 rate is almost the same as the rates in 2019 and 2021," WRI wrote on its website, as quoted on Monday (October 28, 2024).

All this forest loss resulted in 2.4 gigatons (Gt) of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, equivalent to almost half of the United States' annual fossil fuel emissions.

By country, the largest loss originated from Brazil, at 1.14 million hectares. Despite being the largest, the loss of primary forest area decreased from 1.77 million hectares in 2022.

Second was the Democratic Republic of Congo, at 0.53 million hectares. Unlike Brazil, the loss in the Congo increased from 0.51 million hectares in 2022.

Third was Bolivia, at 0.49 million hectares. This is an increase from 0.39 million hectares in 2022.

Indonesia followed in fourth place with a loss of 0.29 million hectares. This figure also increased from 0.23 million hectares in 2022.

Fifth was Peru, at 0.15 million hectares. This is an increase from 0.16 million hectares in 2022.

Also included in the top 10 are Colombia, Laos, Cameroon, Madagascar, and Malaysia.

The following shows the area of tropical primary forest loss in 2023 based on the top 10 countries and other countries combined:

* Brazil: 1.14 million hectares
* Democratic Republic of Congo: 0.53 million hectares
* Bolivia: 0.49 million hectares
* Indonesia: 0.29 million hectares
* Peru: 0.15 million hectares
* Laos: 0.14 million hectares
* Cameroon: 0.1 million hectares
* Madagascar: 0.08 million hectares
* Malaysia: 0.08 million hectares
* Colombia: 0.07 million hectares
* Other countries: 0.68 million hectares

(Also read: Indonesia Ranks Second in the World for Tropical Primary Forest Loss)