Climate

Despite a drop in deforestation in 2025, forest losses pile up in the Mekong

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 29/09/2026, 02:24:24 UTC.

Briefings

Mongabay analyzed data from the Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) laboratory and Global Nature Watch (formerly Global Forest Watch) to report that the Mekong region lost 746,168 hectares of tree cover in 2025, a figure roughly equal to the size of Bangkok. Despite a 25% drop in deforestation rate compared to 2024, nearly 154,000 hectares of primary forest and over 200,000 hectares of protected areas were lost. The decline in 2025 was attributed to fewer wildfires, higher rainfall, and stricter law enforcement, though experts caution that short-term drops do not guarantee a broader trend. The study was published in September 2026.

Key points

• The Mekong region lost a combined 746,168 hectares of tree cover in 2025, equivalent to the size of Bangkok.
• Of the total loss, 154,000 hectares were primary forest and over 200,000 hectares were lost from protected areas.

Context and limitations

Data covers only 2025; the study relies on Mongabay's analysis of GLAD and Global Nature Watch reports, with some uncertainty regarding the long-term trend despite the 25% rate decline.

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