Experts say rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall worsen forest fires across Europe.
The 2025 wildfire season in Europe has broken records for burned land.
Firefighters report over one million hectares destroyed so far, surpassing the size of Corsica.
That total exceeds four times last year’s area.
Massive Fire Counts and Carbon Emissions
Authorities declared more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.
Among the EU’s 27 countries, only the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta avoided wildfires.
Italy and Romania each reported more than 450 blazes.
Countries with fewer fires can still suffer the heaviest damage.
Cyprus recorded just three fires, but each caused severe destruction.
Spain and Portugal Bear the Brunt
Since January, fires destroyed over 400,000 hectares in Spain and 260,000 hectares in Portugal.
Those losses equal 0.8% of Spain and 3% of Portugal’s total landmass.
Preparing Landscapes to Protect Firefighters
Held warns such wildfire conditions will become more frequent, straining firefighting resources.
He urges landscape preparation to improve resilience and protect firefighter safety.
Authorities can reduce vegetation using clearing, grazing, or controlled burns.
Agroforestry systems, combining crops and trees, also help limit wildfire impact.
