A new data from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab shows that tropical rainforest loss fell 36 percent in 2025 from the record high of 2024. The findings reported on World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform and Global Nature Watch suggest that strong policies and enforcement can curb forest loss.
However, climate-driven fires are a dangerous new normal, threatening to reverse recent gains. In 2025, the world lost 4.3 million hectares (10.6 million acres) of tropical primary rainforest, an area roughly the size of Denmark.
Despite the decline, loss remains 46 percent higher than a decade ago, with primary forests disappearing at a rate of football (soccer) fields every minute.
“A drop of this scale in a single year is encouraging — it shows what decisive government action can achieve,” said co-director of Global Forest Watch, World Resources Institute, Elizabeth Goldman. “But part of the decline reflects a lull after an extreme fire year.
Fires and climate change are feeding off each other, and with El Niño on the horizon for 2026, investments in prevention and response will be critical as extreme fire conditions become the norm,” Goldman said. Despite recent progress, global forest loss remains far above the level required to meet the 2030 goal of halting and reversing forest loss, a commitment made by more than 140 countries under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration.
Current levels are about 70 percent too high. Tropical primary forests are vital for climate stability, biodiversity and the millions who depend on them for food, income and protection from extreme weather. Their loss releases vast amounts of carbon and weakens one of the planet’s most important natural defenses against climate change.
Much of the global reduction was driven by Brazil, home to the world’s largest rainforest. In 2025, Brazil cut non-fire primary forest loss by 41 percent compared to 2024, reaching its lowest level on record. The decline coincides with stronger environmental policies and enforcement under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, including the relaunch of the PPCDAm federal anti-deforestation plan and increased penalties for environmental crimes.
Although Brazil still has the largest absolute area of primary forest loss due to its size, its rate relative to forest area (0.5 percent) is now lower than several other tropical countries. “Brazil’s progress shows what’s possible when forest protection is treated as a national priority.
“But Brazil’s landscape is becoming more flammable, and growing fire risk means enforcement alone won’t be enough. Protecting these gains will require scaling communityled prevention and building an economy that rewards standing forests,” said Mirela Sandrini, executive director, WRI Brasil.
Other countries also showed progress. Indonesia and Malaysia maintained relatively low rates of primary forest loss, while Colombia reversed a spike seen in 2024. Progress in these countries reflected improved governance, recognition of Indigenous land rights and corporate commitments to deforestation-free production.
“Indonesia managed to keep forest loss largely under control in recent years, supported by policies that limit new forest clearing and give communities greater rights to manage forests. “That shows a strong commitment to more sustainable land use.
But rising economic pressures could test that progress – and whether it can hold under pressure will depend on how well growth is balanced with climate and nature,” said Arief Wijaya, managing director, WRI Indonesia. For his part, Senior Advisor, WRI Colombia, Joaquín Carrizosa, said “Colombia’s story is one of fragile progress: deforestation slowed not because pressure eased, but because governance held the line.
“2026 will be the real test – without sustained enforcement and economic alternatives to clearing forests, this progress could quickly reverse. There’s a credible path to lasting change: increase investment in protecting the Amazon, back Indigenous leadership and build local economies that rely on forests staying intact.”
While agricultural expansion remains the leading driver of tree cover loss overall, fires were a major contributor in 2025, accounting for 42 percent of the 25.5 million hectares (63.1 million acres) of tree cover loss worldwide, an area slightly larger than the United Kingdom.
Climate change is increasing fire risk by creating hotter, drier conditions that allow fires to spread more easily. In turn, these fires release vast amounts of stored carbon, accelerating climate change and reinforcing a dangerous feedback loop.
