Global tropical forest loss fell by 40% in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to data from the University of Maryland and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The decline was driven by significant reductions in deforestation in Brazil and Colombia, where government policies have strengthened enforcement.
Brazil, which accounts for a large share of the Amazon rainforest, saw a 46% drop in primary forest loss in 2025. Colombia recorded a 55% decline, continuing a trend that began after peace agreements with rebel groups reduced land clearing for agriculture and coca farming.
However, not all regions improved. Forest loss increased in Bolivia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where agricultural expansion and mining activities continued to drive deforestation. Overall, the global total of primary forest loss in 2025 was about 3.7 million hectares, down from 6.2 million hectares in 2024.
Environmental groups cautiously welcomed the data but stressed that the overall rate of forest loss remains high. The Amazon rainforest, a critical carbon sink, still lost an area larger than Switzerland in 2025. Experts say sustained political will and international funding are needed to maintain progress.
