Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada
Canada: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 4,707 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada is 4,707 hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada peaked at 9,594 hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4,304 hectares, in 2013.
That places Canada 5th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5,101 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 5,772 hectares | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 4,825 hectares | -16.4% |
| 2004 | 9,535 hectares | +97.6% |
| 2005 | 8,876 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 9,594 hectares | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 8,799 hectares | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 7,899 hectares | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 7,071 hectares | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 7,394 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 5,111 hectares | -30.9% |
| 2012 | 7,728 hectares | +51.2% |
| 2013 | 4,304 hectares | -44.3% |
| 2014 | 5,952 hectares | +38.3% |
| 2015 | 4,467 hectares | -25.0% |
| 2016 | 7,254 hectares | +62.4% |
| 2017 | 7,315 hectares | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 6,455 hectares | -11.8% |
| 2019 | 5,499 hectares | -14.8% |
| 2020 | 5,604 hectares | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 6,575 hectares | +17.3% |
| 2022 | 6,808 hectares | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 4,870 hectares | -28.5% |
| 2024 | 4,707 hectares | -3.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 4,707 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 48.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,497 hectares | 4,825 hectares | 9,594 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 6,148 hectares | 4,304 hectares | 7,728 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,713 hectares | 4,707 hectares | 6,808 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Canada was 4,707 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9,594 hectares in 2006.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,304 hectares in 2013.
- How does Canada rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Canada ranks 5th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss by dominant driver. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Tree cover loss due to the expansion and intensification of roads, settlements, urban areas, or other built infrastructure.