Tree cover loss by dominant driver in New Zealand
New Zealand: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 99.42 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 99.42 hectares, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 31.8% on the previous year and down 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in New Zealand peaked at 459.86 hectares in 2005 and was at its lowest, 99.42 hectares, in 2024.
New Zealand ranks 86th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 158.76 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 234.96 hectares | +48.0% |
| 2003 | 274.66 hectares | +16.9% |
| 2004 | 409.18 hectares | +49.0% |
| 2005 | 459.86 hectares | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 412.66 hectares | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 437.25 hectares | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 261.74 hectares | -40.1% |
| 2009 | 240.99 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 258.32 hectares | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 167.34 hectares | -35.2% |
| 2012 | 279.45 hectares | +67.0% |
| 2013 | 226.51 hectares | -18.9% |
| 2014 | 242.92 hectares | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 177.42 hectares | -27.0% |
| 2016 | 312.91 hectares | +76.4% |
| 2017 | 274.9 hectares | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 215.62 hectares | -21.6% |
| 2019 | 149.48 hectares | -30.7% |
| 2020 | 140.19 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 163.91 hectares | +16.9% |
| 2022 | 187.16 hectares | +14.2% |
| 2023 | 145.79 hectares | -22.1% |
| 2024 | 99.42 hectares | -31.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 99.42 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 1.0× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 99.42 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 106.67 hectares, 93% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 321.12 hectares | 158.76 hectares | 459.86 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 230.49 hectares | 149.48 hectares | 312.91 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 147.29 hectares | 99.42 hectares | 187.16 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in New Zealand?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in New Zealand was 99.42 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 459.86 hectares in 2005.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 99.42 hectares in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- New Zealand ranks 86th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.