Wildfires devastating richer areas but fewer hectares burned globally – study
A recent study reveals that while wildfires devastated wealthier regions in 2025, the total area burned globally decreased. The report highlights catastrophic fires in California, Canada, Europe, and South Korea, with the area burned being the second-lowest since 2002. Changes in land use, particularly in Africa, have contributed to this decline, even as climate change continues to exacerbate fire conditions.
- ▪Wildfires in 2025 primarily affected wealthier areas, despite a global decrease in burned land.
- ▪The total area burned was 335 million hectares, the second-lowest since 2002, largely due to changes in farming practices in Africa.
- ▪Record-breaking fires in Spain and Portugal burned over half a million hectares, while South Korea experienced its deadliest wildfire season on record.
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Trees sway in high winds as the Eaton fire rips through Altadena, California, on 8 January last year. Photograph: Ethan Swope/APView image in fullscreenTrees sway in high winds as the Eaton fire rips through Altadena, California, on 8 January last year. Photograph: Ethan Swope/APWildfiresWildfires devastating richer areas but fewer hectares burned globally – study‘Megafires’ in California, Canada, South Korea and Europe in 2025, but changes to farming slowed spread in parts of AfricaAjit NiranjanMon 1 Jun 2026 02.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on Google“Devastating” wildfires ripped across the wealthier parts of the world in 2025, a study has found, even as globally, the area ravaged by flames fell.Catastrophic blazes claimed lives, homes and jobs last year in California, Canada, Europe…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
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