Tropical rainforest loss fell sharply in 2025, driven largely by policy wins in Brazil, but overall deforestation remains dangerously high as climate-driven fires emerge as a rising global threat, according to new data from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab, released on the World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Global Forest Watch platform.
The world lost 4.3 million hectares of primary tropical rainforest last year – an area roughly the size of Denmark. While that represents a 36% drop from 2024’s record high, loss remains 46% above levels from a decade ago.
Elizabeth Goldman, Co-Director of Global Forest Watch at WRI said: ‘A drop of this scale in a single year is encouraging, it shows what decisive government action can achieve. But part of the decline reflects a lull after an extreme fire year. Fires and climate change are feeding off each other.”
Much of the global reduction came from Brazil, which cut non-fire primary forest loss by 41% compared to 2024, reaching its lowest level on record. The decline coincides with stronger environmental policies under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, including the relaunch of a federal anti-deforestation plan and increased penalties for environmental crimes.
Mirela Sandrini, Executive Director of WRI Brasil. said: ‘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.’
Fires accounted for 42% of global tree cover loss in 2025, affecting 25.5 million hectares – an area slightly larger than the United Kingdom. Climate change is creating hotter, drier conditions, allowing fires to spread more easily while releasing vast amounts of stored carbon and accelerating global warming.
‘Climate change and land clearing have shortened the fuse on global forest fires,’ said Matthew Hansen, Professor at the University of Maryland and Director of the GLAD Lab. ‘They are turning seasonal disturbances into a near-permanent state of emergency.’
Loss remained high elsewhere. Bolivia recorded its second-highest level of primary forest loss, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo saw non-fire loss hit a record high. Current global forest loss remains about 70% above the level needed to meet the 2030 goal of halting deforestation.
Rod Taylor, Global Director of Forests at WRI said: ‘The progress we’re seeing in countries like Brazil and Colombia is heartening – but far from assured. These are inspiring examples of what can be done, but also a reminder of how much the fate of our forests hinges on political will.’
With El Niño likely to intensify fire risk in 2026, researchers warn that without sustained investment in prevention and community-led protection, recent gains could quickly reverse.
Click here to read more about the tree cover loss data methodology and how it compares with other official deforestation estimates.
Photo: Kyle Cleveland