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WRI DIGEST SPECIAL: FIRES ↓

It’s not just your perception that forest fires are getting worse.

Recent blazes in Spain and Canada that forced thousands to evacuate are only the latest examples. 2024 was the worst year for forest fires on record. 2023 set the bar before that.

But even these extreme years are part of a broader trend.

WRI analysis shows that forest fires are becoming bigger, more frequent and more destructive around the globe, burning more than twice as much tree cover today as they did at the start of the century.

Chart by WRI. Data from Global Forest Watch.

The impacts on people and nature grow ever-more visible. Fire-related deaths are rising. Choking, smoke-filled skies are the new norm in many parts of the world. Entire communities have been leveled in places like Los Angeles. And fires are driving a larger share of global deforestation.

But why are forest fires escalating so quickly? What does climate change have to do with it? And how can we reverse the trend?

Dive deeper into our latest analyses to find out:

Forest Fire Trends

Climate change is a major driver behind worsening forest fires, with the two locked in a vicious feedback loop.
This has contributed to more extreme forest fires over the last two decades.
Even historically low-risk regions, like the tropics, are seeing fires escalate.

Unpacking Fire’s Impacts

Fires affect people both near and far through smoke, hazardous air quality, polluted water, and damage to homes and infrastructure.
More severe fires are eating away at forests’ ability to store carbon, accelerating the world’s trajectory toward dangerous climate tipping points.

Protecting Forests

Explore solutions to mitigate wildfires and protect the world’s remaining forests.
Track forest fire alerts in real time and explore global fire trends on WRI’s Global Forest Watch Platform.

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