A closer look at “Global Deforestation Slowed in 2025 but Congo Basin Losses Surge, Study Warns”, exactly as the source publishes it. Global deforestation rates declined in 2025, but experts caution the respite may be short-lived as forest loss accelerates in the Congo basin and a powerful El Niño threatens to worsen conditions, according to a new study released Wednesday. The report highlights a troubling divergence: while some regions made progress, Central Africa's rainforests—critical for biodiversity and carbon storage—experienced a sharp increase in clearing. The Congo basin, the world's second-largest tropical forest, lost significantly more tree cover than in previous years, driven by agricultural expansion, logging, and mining.
Researchers warn that the combination of local pressures and El Niño's drying effects could undermine recent global gains. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts and international support for Central African nations, where enforcement and sustainable land-use planning remain weak. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.