Europe hit by worst forest fires since 2000
The European Commission has just published an alarming report: the year 2023 was one of the worst years for forest fires in Europe.
In 2023, not only Europe but also Africa and the Middle East were hit by the worst forest fires since 2000. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre unveiled a rather worrying report, showing a huge amount of natural land ravaged or “damaged” by flames: 500,000 hectares in total, almost half the surface area of the island of Cyprus, reports L'Indépendant.
“In recent years, frequent forest fires have broken out all over Europe and neighboring countries, and 2023 was no exception,” says the Commission. In its report, it also points out that these fires are proof of the “undeniable effects” of global warming, both in terms of the increased frequency and intensity of forest fires.
The Commission adds: “Climate change is not only increasing the size of the areas affected by forest fires, it's also making individual fires more intense, extending the fire season beyond the traditional summer period, and causing fires in areas not normally affected”.
In the EU, man is responsible for almost 96% of forest fires. In order to combat this scourge, the Commission wishes to point out that it's absolutely “necessary to minimize the number of fires starting and to manage the landscape in vulnerable regions, in particular by preventing the accumulation of high-risk fuels”.
(MH with AsD - Source : L'Indépendant - Illustration : Unsplash)