The Economic Times

In 2001, protected tropical forests entered a global wildfire study spanning 24 years. 23 years later, more than 4 million hectares had been destroyed by fire, twice the size of Wales, with annual losses roughly 9 times higher after 2016

Millions of hectares of protected tropical forests were lost to wildfires between 2001 and 2024. Wildfire destruction inside protected areas has significantly accelerated since 2016. The tropical Americas, especially Brazil, experienced the vast majority of these losses. Protected areas offered some reduction in fire risk, particularly in Africa.