Experts link rising temperatures and reduced rainfall to worsening forest fires across Europe.
The 2025 wildfire season has already destroyed record amounts of land.
Fires have consumed over one million hectares in the EU, larger than Corsica, four times last year’s total.
Fire Statistics Across the Continent
Authorities declared more than 1,800 forest fires, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.
Only the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta reported no fires.
Italy and Romania recorded over 450 blazes each, topping the list.
Cyprus suffered extreme damage from just three fires.
Since January, Spain lost more than 400,000 hectares, Portugal over 260,000 hectares—3% of Portugal and 0.8% of Spain.
Firefighting Resources Under Pressure
Held warned that extreme conditions will increasingly strain firefighting resources.
He urged preparing landscapes to improve resilience and protect firefighters’ safety.
Authorities can reduce vegetation through clearing, grazing, or controlled burns.
Agroforestry systems combining crops and trees also strengthen landscapes against fires.
