Scientists Warn Primary Forest Destruction Is Undermining Climate Efforts

(MENAFN) Turkish researchers have warned that the continued destruction of primary forests is weakening global carbon storage capacity and could severely hinder international efforts to combat climate change.

According to an analysis cited from international environmental data, losses in tropical primary forests declined by 36 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year. Despite that reduction, nearly 4.3 million hectares of tropical forest were still destroyed, representing a sharp increase compared with levels recorded a decade ago.

The report indicated that several countries continued to experience notable declines in primary forest coverage. Brazil recorded losses amounting to 0.47 percent of its primary forests, while Bolivia saw losses of 1.52 percent. Additional declines were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Peru, Cameroon, Madagascar, Colombia, Laos, and Malaysia.

In terms of total land affected, Brazil experienced the highest level of forest destruction with 1.63 million hectares lost. Bolivia followed with 620,000 hectares, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia also recorded major losses. Significant forest reductions were additionally reported across Peru, Cameroon, Madagascar, Colombia, Laos, and Malaysia.

Doganay Tolunay, head of the Forest Engineering Department at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa’s Forestry Faculty, explained that primary forests are ecosystems that remain untouched by human activity or have naturally regenerated over long periods to restore their ecological balance without visible traces of previous intervention.

He noted that forests commonly referred to in Türkiye as ancient, virgin, or old-growth natural forests are considered part of the primary forest category.

“According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, primary forests with very high biodiversity cover 1.18 billion hectares worldwide. This corresponds to 29% of the world’s total forest area of around 4 billion hectares,” he said.

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