Global rainforest loss continues at rate of 10 football pitches a minute

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Despite significant reductions in rainforest loss in Brazil and Colombia, global deforestation continues unabated, with 37,000 sq km of pristine rainforest, an area nearly the size of Switzerland, cleared in 2023
• This equates to a rate of 10 football pitches a minute, primarily for agricultural expansion

🔭 The context: While Brazil and Colombia saw forest loss drop by 36% and 49% respectively, thanks to effective environmental policies, increases in countries like Bolivia, Laos, and Nicaragua counteracted these gains. Canada also saw a record forest loss due to fire.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Rainforests are critical for limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and for biodiversity 
• Deforestation, a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, poses significant risks to achieving global climate and biodiversity targets

⏭️ What's next: Experts highlight the need for global action to meet deforestation targets, suggesting models like Brazil and Colombia's successes can offer a pathway forward
• Initiatives such as compensation for rainforest conservation are seen as potential solutions to encourage preservation

💬 One quote: "The world took two steps forward, two steps back when it comes to this past year’s forest loss," said Mikaela Weisse, director of Global Forest Watch at the World Resources Institute.

📈 One stat: In 2023, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bolivia were the top three countries for primary rainforest loss, accounting for more than half of the total global destruction.

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