Global deforestation of tropical rainforests slowed significantly in 2025, offering a rare sign of environmental progress, but scientists warn that rising climate risks and a looming El Niño weather pattern could quickly undo these gains.
New satellite data from the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland shows that approximately 43,000 square kilometers of old-growth tropical forest were lost last year, an area roughly the size of Denmark. This represents a 36% decline compared to the record losses recorded in 2024, though deforestation levels remain far higher than a decade ago.
Researchers attribute the slowdown partly to improved conservation efforts in key countries, particularly Brazil, where stronger environmental policies and enforcement have helped curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Excluding fire-related losses, Brazil recorded its lowest level of primary forest loss since monitoring began in 2002.
The easing of extreme wildfire activity in 2025 also played a role, as cooler La Niña conditions replaced the hotter, fire-prone El Niño pattern that contributed to devastating forest losses the previous year.
Despite the positive trend, scientists caution that the outlook remains fragile. Tropical rainforests, which play a critical role in absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating the global climate, continue to face mounting pressure from agricultural expansion, logging, and climate change.
Experts are particularly concerned about the potential return of El Niño later this year, combined with long-term warming trends, which could intensify droughts and significantly increase the risk of large-scale forest fires.
Climate researchers warn that these combined pressures are making forests more vulnerable than ever. Without urgent action to improve fire management and strengthen forest resilience, there is a growing risk that key ecosystems could reach irreversible tipping points.
Global leaders had pledged at the COP26 climate summit to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, but current progress remains insufficient to meet that goal.
Separate findings from the European Union’s Copernicus climate service highlight the broader impact of climate change, with Europe experiencing widespread heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires in 2025. The continent recorded above-average temperatures across 95% of its area, while thousands of square kilometers were burned by fires.
Although renewable energy adoption continues to rise across Europe, scientists stress that accelerating climate action and forest protection efforts will be critical to sustaining recent gains and preventing future environmental setbacks.
