According to the source, primary forests are defined as "mature natural humid tropical forest cover that has not been completely cleared and regrown in recent history (approximately 30 years before the year 2001, when primary forests were mapped as part of this data)."
Non-fire related loss may be a result of mechanical clearing for agriculture and logging, or from natural causes like wind damage or river meandering.
Citation formats
Global tropical primary forest loss 2002-2023, by cause
In 2023, a total of **** million hectares of tropical primary forest were lost worldwide. Non-fire related causes such as forest clearing for agriculture or logging purposes accounted for the majority of tropical primary forest loss that year. In the period of consideration, tropical primary forest loss peaked in 2016 at more than *** million hectares, resulting from a particularly bad year of tropical forest fires.
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WRI. (April 4, 2024). Loss of tropical primary forest worldwide from 2002 to 2023, by cause (in million hectares) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 21, 2026, from /statistics/1308739/tropical-primary-forest-loss-by-cause/
WRI. "Loss of tropical primary forest worldwide from 2002 to 2023, by cause (in million hectares)." Chart. April 4, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 21, 2026. /statistics/1308739/tropical-primary-forest-loss-by-cause/
WRI. (2024). Loss of tropical primary forest worldwide from 2002 to 2023, by cause (in million hectares). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 21, 2026. /statistics/1308739/tropical-primary-forest-loss-by-cause/
WRI. "Loss of Tropical Primary Forest Worldwide from 2002 to 2023, by Cause (in Million Hectares)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 4 Apr 2024, /statistics/1308739/tropical-primary-forest-loss-by-cause/
WRI, Loss of tropical primary forest worldwide from 2002 to 2023, by cause (in million hectares) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1308739/tropical-primary-forest-loss-by-cause/ (last visited July 21, 2026)
Loss of tropical primary forest worldwide from 2002 to 2023, by cause (in million hectares) [Graph], WRI, April 4, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1308739/tropical-primary-forest-loss-by-cause/
