Canada recorded the highest forest loss in the world in 2025, losing an estimated 6.2 million hectares of forest, according to data from Global Forest Watch.
The figure accounts for 23.3 per cent of global forest area loss among the countries tracked and highlights the growing environmental challenges facing forest-rich nations.
Russia ranked second, losing 3.3 million hectares, followed by Brazil at 2.9 million hectares.
The United States and Indonesia recorded forest losses of 1.6 million hectares and 1.2 million hectares respectively.
Collectively, other countries accounted for 10 million hectares of forest loss, representing 37.6 per cent of the global total.
Forest loss is driven by a combination of factors, including wildfires, agricultural expansion, logging, mining activities and urban development.
In recent years, climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of wildfires, particularly in Canada and parts of Russia.
Environmental experts warn that continued deforestation and forest degradation threaten biodiversity, water resources and global efforts to combat climate change, as forests play a critical role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
