Fires in Mediterranean forests

Wildfires are one of the main factors which have influenced the Mediterranean region since thousands of years. However, during the last decades the problem became much more serious due to an increase in frequency of fires and size of the fire affected areas. Nowadays, fires are one of the greatest environmental issues in all Mediterranean countries. To demonstrate the dimension of the problem it was estimated that in the whole Mediterranean region every year about 50,000 fires destroy 700,000 to 1,000,000 ha of forests and other vegetation types. In addition to ecological damages tremendous economic losses have to be deplored every year.

Forest fire in Korsika, France.

Fires in boreal forests

Fires in boreal forests are frequent, since the summer season in many boreal-forests is dry (arid). Large areas of Siberia and Northern America are highly susceptible to fire. About 5.000.000 ha of boreal forests burn every year. However, boreal forests are adapted to fires and regenerate well to the pre-fire status. In boreal forests wild fires maintain the natural dynamics, biodiversity and productivity. In summer 1988 eight huge fires destroyed about 320.000 ha of Yellowstone's precious, protected forests. Fires became highly destructive because for more than half a century wildfires were suppressed in their initial phase by foresters. Over decades dead biomass could accumulate which gave an ideal fuel.

Burned forest 10 years after the fire in
Yellowstone Nation Parc in USA
Fires in a global view Fires in tropical rain forests