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Fire tied to 38% of global forest loss

From 2003–2018, 38±9% of annual forest loss was fire-related, and that fraction explained 89±5% of year-to-year variation in global loss rates.

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What fraction of 2003–2018 forest loss was fire-related?

38±9% (91±22 ×10³ km² year−1 of 239 ×10³ km² year−1).

How much of year-to-year global forest-loss variability was fire-related?

89±5%.

Where was almost all forest loss fire-related?

Sparsely populated boreal regions.

Did the global fire-related fraction trend?

It remained stable globally, with regional declines in early deforestation frontiers and increases in African tropics.

How much of the fire-related estimate came from burned area vs active fires?

23±2% captured by burned area; 15±9% added by active fires.

What share of all fire detections overlapped forest loss?

Only 6.9% of burned-area and 15.4% of active-fire detections overlapped forest loss.

Why does permanent forest loss matter for climate?

It can reduce the land carbon sink and alter energy budgets and clouds, unlike loss followed by recovery.

What human uses of fire are implicated besides wildfire?

Clearing or slash burning for commodity deforestation and shifting agriculture.

Why are some regional trends hard to declare?

Boreal/western North America have long fire-return intervals; single severe years dominate short records.

Study period for the fire-related fraction?

2003–2018.