Tropical Deforestation Reaches Record High – Germany Must Act: Support the TFFF Now

2024 was a disastrous year for the world’s tropical rainforests: a new study has revealed alarming findings. Fires in the tropics have driven global forest loss to record levels. The climate crisis is not only advancing – it is being dramatically worsened by the destruction of rainforests.

This is highlighted by 2024 data from the GLAD Lab at the University of Maryland on global tree cover loss. The findings were presented on May 21st, 2025, by Global Forest Watch of the World Resources Institute. The observations are alarming – but the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), an initiative led by the Brazilian government, could help save the rainforest.

Tropics on Fire – Major Tree Loss in the Rainforests

In 2024, global tree cover loss reached a record high of 30 million hectares. The most dramatic losses occurred in tropical rainforests. A staggering 6.7 million hectares of primary forest were lost in the tropics alone – an area slightly larger than the German state of Bavaria.

Nearly half of the tropical forest loss in 2024 was caused by fires – an unprecedented scale. But even tree loss unrelated to fires increased by 14% – the highest rise since 2016.

The fires are having devastating consequences not only for biodiversity but also for the climate. They release vast amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere and destroy natural carbon sinks essential for the future. As a result, the fires are acting as accelerants of the climate crisis. In 2024 alone, the fires caused 4.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions – about four times the emissions of global aviation in 2023.

Tropical Rainforests Are Disappearing at Alarming Speed

“The numbers from Global Forest Watch are terrifying: we are rapidly heading toward the total destruction of tropical rainforests,” says Felix Finkbeiner, founder of Plant-for-the-Planet.

The study shows that tropical rainforest is vanishing at a rate equivalent to 18 football fields per minute. Its capacity to absorb _CO₂ is irreplaceable. If destruction continues, it will accelerate global warming with devastating consequences: heatwaves, drought, and extreme weather events – even in Germany and across Europe.

Germany Must Act: The TFFF as a Chance for the Rainforest

There is hope: the TFFF. Proposed by Brazilian President Lula da Silva, this $125 billion fund aims to stop tropical deforestation by rewarding countries with financial support for every hectare of forest they preserve.

The TFFF is designed to provide strong financial incentives to countries with large tropical forest areas. The goal is to preserve these forests and curb deforestation driven by short-term profits. By offering long-term, performance-based payments, the fund would effectively promote forest conservation.

A Call to the German Government – Germany Must Join the TFFF

The TFFF also aims to support indigenous communities and strengthen local structures to enable deforestation-free development. This is where many past initiatives have failed – in the sustainable financing of effective forest protection.

“Protecting the rainforest is vital for our future. That’s why we urgently need the TFFF. We call on the German government to support the Brazilian government – which has proven that effective rainforest protection is possible – in sustainably and permanently funding rainforest conservation,” appeals Felix Finkbeiner.

Brazil will host the next UN Climate Conference (COP30) in November. It may be the decisive moment for the future of the rainforest. “At COP30, the TFFF must be launched. For that, Germany needs to make a binding commitment.”

The German government must act now!