Forest fires fueled by climate change are destroying twice as many trees worldwide as 20 years ago. Every minute, an area the size of about 16 football fields is destroyed by fire. This is according to a recent study by the American University of Maryland. The greatest loss of trees occurs in the boreal forests, which cover much of Russia, Canada and Alaska and are among the largest carbon sinks in the world.
The study found that an additional three million hectares of forest have been destroyed by fire every year since 2001 – an area the size of Belgium. The data shows that 2021 was one of the worst wildfire years since the turn of the century, with 9.3 million hectares of trees lost worldwide. That’s more than a third of all tree loss in the past year, according to data collected by the University of Maryland, Global Forest Watch and the World Resources Institute. Other factors included deforestation and pests.
Fires change forests and soils
Researchers used satellite imagery for their work and were responsible for fires that kill all or most of the canopy and cause long-term changes in forest structure and soil chemistry.
Western Europe saw an unprecedented number of fires in 2022, the EU satellite surveillance service said last week. Tens of thousands of hectares of forest were lost in France, Spain and Portugal. Forest fires are still raging in some parts of Europe (see video above).
Climate change likely ‘main cause’
According to the researchers, climate change is likely a “main cause” of the increasing fires. Extreme heat waves drying out forests are five times more likely today than they were 150 years ago. The wildfires in turn lead to more emissions, further increasing global warming and making further fires even more likely in a “feedback effect”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
