Global Forest Loss Plunges by Third, but Targets Remain Elusive

Breaking: Tropical Forest Loss Drops Significantly

Tropical primary forest loss fell by more than one-third between 2024 and 2025, according to the latest Global Forest Review released today. The World Resources Institute (WRI), which co-produced the report, confirmed the decline but warned that rates remain dangerously high. “We are still losing primary forests at a rate 46% higher than a decade ago,” said Dr. Mikaela Weisse, director of WRI’s Global Forest Watch.

The drop was driven largely by a sharp reduction in extreme fires compared to the previous year. Brazil recorded the largest absolute loss, yet its deforestation fell by 42% year-on-year, thanks to a multi-stakeholder task force involving government, civil society, academia, and local communities, reported Agência Brasil.

Progress Across Key Nations

In Indonesia, Malaysia, and Colombia, improved governance, recognition of Indigenous land rights, and corporate commitments to deforestation-free supply chains contributed to the overall decline, according to EnviroNews Nigeria. However, the amount of deforestation still remains far above what is needed to meet international targets to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, noted BusinessGreen.

Agricultural expansion continues to be the biggest driver of forest loss worldwide, Reuters reported. Fires also pose a growing threat that could reverse recent gains, especially in drought-prone regions.

EU Deforestation Law Weakened Under Industry Pressure

In a separate development, the European Commission has decided to exclude imports of leather from its anti-deforestation law, Reuters reported. Leather industry groups had argued that leather is a low-value by-product of the meat industry and does not incentivize cattle farming that drives deforestation. Imported beef remains covered by the regulation.

Meanwhile, a group of UK Parliament members issued an open letter demanding “long-overdue regulations to end UK imports linked to illegal deforestation”, as reported by Mongabay. Although the forest-risk regulation was introduced in 2021 under the Environment Act, implementation has been delayed for four years.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement Takes Effect

The EU-Mercosur trade deal – between the European bloc and four South American countries – provisionally came into force on 1 May after 25 years of negotiations, Euractiv reported. The agreement's application is expected to boost trade but has drawn criticism from environmental groups who fear it could undermine forest protection efforts.

Background

Tropical primary forests – intact or relatively undisturbed ecosystems – are critical for biodiversity and carbon storage. The Global Forest Review has tracked forest loss since 2001. Previous years saw record-breaking fires and agricultural expansion driving high deforestation rates, particularly in Brazil and Indonesia. International targets, including the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use, aim to halt forest loss by 2030.

What This Means

The significant drop in forest loss shows that coordinated action – government enforcement, Indigenous land rights, and corporate pledges – can work. Yet the pace remains too slow. Without faster progress, the 2030 target may slip out of reach. The weakening of the EU deforestation law and delays in UK regulations highlight ongoing political and economic tensions between conservation and industry. The EU-Mercosur deal adds another layer of complexity, potentially increasing deforestation pressure in South America. Fire risk and agricultural expansion remain critical threats that require sustained global attention.