A firefighter works to contain a fire that broke out near Landiras, as wildfires continue to spread in the Gironde region of southwestern France. (Photo:Aljazeera)
European forests are heating up faster than any other continent on Earth. From Portugal’s scorched plains to the charred forests of Greece and southern France, the continent’s green lungs are under siege. In 2022 alone, wildfires burned more than 800,000 hectares across the European Union — an area roughly the size of Corsica — according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Scientists warn that unless urgent action is taken, such catastrophic fires will become the new normal.
The summer of 2024 was a grim reminder. Temperatures in Spain, Italy, and Greece soared above 45°C, while Sweden and Germany recorded unprecedented heatwaves that dried out landscapes once thought immune to wildfires. “Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, warming at roughly twice the global average,” said Sophie von Dobschütz, a senior climate analyst at the European Environment Agency (EEA). “This means that our forests, ecosystems, and communities are now facing conditions they were never adapted to handle.”
Satellite images released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service show that areas previously considered low-risk — including parts of central and northern Europe — are now increasingly vulnerable. The number of large fires in regions like the Balkans and Eastern Europe has nearly tripled over the past decade.
When Europe Forests Lose Their Natural Armor
European forests, once seen as natural barriers against climate instability, are now among its victims. Decades of fire suppression and monoculture planting — particularly of flammable species like pine and eucalyptus — have left many forests fragile and prone to ignition.
“Many European forests were planted for timber production, not resilience,” explained Dr. Annette Menzel, an ecologist from the Technical University of Munich. “They lack biodiversity, which means when one species burns or falls to disease, the entire system collapses.”
The European Environment Agency’s 2025 report highlights that more than 65% of EU forests are in poor condition, suffering from drought stress, insect infestation, and soil degradation — all factors that amplify wildfire risk.
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Working With Nature, Not Against It
To reverse this trend, European institutions are embracing what they call “nature-based solutions.” Rather than trying to dominate nature, the approach works with it — by restoring wetlands, rewilding degraded landscapes, and encouraging mixed-species forests.
“Healthy forests are naturally more resistant to wildfires,” said Hans Bruyninckx, former Executive Director of the EEA. “We must shift from managing fires to managing landscapes.”
Projects in Portugal and Spain are already showing promise. In Galicia, traditional grazing has been reintroduced to clear dry undergrowth, reducing fuel for fires. Meanwhile, in southern France, a reforestation initiative combining oak, beech, and cork trees — species with higher fire resistance — has restored over 12,000 hectares of resilient forest.
The Human Dimension
Wildfires are no longer confined to remote mountain ranges; they threaten cities, livelihoods, and tourism. The summer fires of 2023 forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate the Greek island of Rhodes. In Italy, vineyards and olive groves — centuries-old symbols of Mediterranean life — were reduced to ash.
“Firefighters are now dealing with mega-fires that last weeks instead of days,” said Marco Ghini, spokesperson for EU Civil Protection. “It’s not just about more fires, but more intense and unpredictable ones.”
In response, the European Union has expanded its rescEU fleet — a network of shared firefighting aircraft and equipment among member states. The EU also launched a €2.2 billion Forest Resilience Program to fund rewilding, research, and early warning systems across the bloc.
Still, experts caution that technology and funding alone won’t solve the crisis. Without a fundamental shift in land use, energy systems, and climate policy, wildfires will continue to outpace Europe’s defenses.
“Each degree of warming increases the probability and intensity of fire events,” said Dr. Menzel. “Our choices in this decade will decide whether southern Europe remains habitable for future generations.”
As Europe’s skies grow hazier with smoke each summer, the continent is being forced to confront a sobering truth: the fight against wildfires is no longer seasonal — it’s existential. (Sulung Prasetyo)
