Experts link rising heat and reduced rainfall from climate change to worsening wildfires.
Europe’s 2025 wildfire season set new records for burned land.
Over one million hectares burned this year in the EU, larger than Corsica’s land area.
This number is over four times higher than last year.
Authorities confirmed more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.
Southern Europe Bears the Brunt
Only five EU countries — Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta — avoided wildfires.
Italy and Romania topped the list, each recording more than 450 fires.
Damage did not always match fire frequency.
Cyprus recorded only three blazes, but each caused massive destruction.
Spain lost more than 400,000 hectares since January, while Portugal lost 260,000 hectares.
These losses equal 3% of Portugal and 0.8% of Spain’s landmass.
Adapting to an Uncertain Future
Held warned that worsening conditions will strain firefighting capacity.
He said firefighters can only succeed if landscapes grow more resilient.
He urged proactive steps to reduce vegetation through clearing, grazing, or controlled burning.
Experts also promote agroforestry systems that merge crops with trees for stronger ecosystems.
