Search giant and researchers map emerging clusters of tropical forest loss in Southeast Asia, South America and Africa

By Alex Pashley

Forests are being cut down at a rapid clip in previously spared territories, data from the University of Maryland and Google reveals.

RCCT – New hotspots are appearing in Southeast Asia’s Mekong Basin, South America’s Gran Chaco region and Madagascar, high-resolution satellite mapping released by Global Forest Watch shows.

The world lost more than 18 million hectares of forest in 2014, an area twice the size of Portugal.

Over 2012-14, the three-year average was the worst since records began in 2001, in a troubling trend as rates reverse after years of decline.

Carbon-rich forests hacked down for cash crops, such as beef, soy and palm oil, together with weak governance, are the main drivers of tree cover loss, said Nigel Sizer at the World Resources Institute. Tiếp tục đọc “Google lays bare overlooked deforestation ‘hotspots’” →