Illegal deforestation around the globe surged 150% in March, as countries around the world were on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study by the World Wildlife Fund.
The study analyzed satellite data and found 645,000 hectares (2,490 square miles) of rainforest was lost during the month. Indonesia was hit the hardest, losing 130,000 hectares (501 square miles) of forestry, followed by Congo and Brazil, which lost 100,000 hectares (386 square miles) and 95,000 hectares (366 square miles) of rainforest, respectively.
The pandemic largely prevented environmental scientists and authorities from monitoring rainforests and state parks at the usual rate, leading illegal loggers to take advantage of the situation, the report states.
"A protected area that is not being actively managed will be lost," a conservationist told the Associated Press regarding the impact of the pandemic on forests.
The WWF report, written in German, can be read via Google Translate here.
