*🌍 #didyouknow tropical forests vanished in 2024 at the fastest rate ever recorded?* New data released by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform shows that the world experienced record-breaking forest loss in 2024 — with tropical primary forests disappearing at nearly double the rate recorded in 2023. On average, forest the size of 18 soccer fields was lost every minute throughout the year. For the first time in over two decades, the majority of this loss in tropical regions was caused by fires, not agricultural expansion. While agriculture has long been the main driver of deforestation, 2024 saw a shift — with widespread fire activity, often linked to drier and hotter conditions, leading the trend. The loss of these forests had a significant climate impact. An estimated 3.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases were released into the atmosphere as a result — more than many industrialized nations emit in an entire year. Tropical forests are crucial for carbon storage, biodiversity, clean water, and local livelihoods. Their continued destruction undermines global efforts to address climate change, protect nature, and support communities. It’s worth remembering that in 2021, more than 140 countries signed the #glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests, committing to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. The latest data suggests that, without major shifts in how we protect and manage forests, that goal is quickly slipping out of reach. At ASEc, we see timely access to this kind of data as essential — not only to understand the pace of environmental change, but to hold ourselves and others accountable to global commitments. #forestwatch #climatedata #sustainabilityinsights #tropicalforests #asecupdates #environmentalpolicy #forestsandclimate https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alliance-for-sustainability-education-asec_didyouknow-glasgow-forestwatch-activity-7335620611693522945-3hrl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAACcAqrgBS7Dcq-0g6FU40ug_OAd4WCZU1yo