Experts link climate change to rising heat and reduced rainfall, which intensify forest fires.
Europe’s 2025 wildfire season sets records for burned land.
Fires consumed more than a million hectares in the EU this year, larger than Corsica.
The total area burned is four times greater than in 2024.
Wildfires Spread Across the EU
Officials declared more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.
Only five EU countries—Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta—avoided wildfires.
Italy and Romania recorded more than 450 fires each, leading the list in frequency.
Cyprus reported only three fires, but each caused severe destruction.
Spain lost over 400,000 hectares, while Portugal lost more than 260,000 hectares.
These figures equal 0.8% of Spain’s territory and 3% of Portugal’s land.
Preparing for a Tougher Future
Held warned that harsher wildfire conditions will strain firefighting resources further.
He said, “Our firefighting system reaches its limits, so we must prepare landscapes for resilience.”
He emphasized making landscapes stronger to ensure firefighters’ safety and efficiency.
Strategies include reducing vegetation through grazing, clearing, or controlled burns.
Agroforestry, which integrates crops and trees, also strengthens fire resilience.
