Experts link higher temperatures and reduced rainfall from climate change to worsening forest fires.
The 2025 wildfire season in Europe has already broken records for land destroyed.
Fires have consumed more than one million hectares across the EU this year, larger than the island of Corsica.
That figure is over four times greater than last year’s total.
Scale of Destruction Across Europe
Authorities declared more than 1,800 forest fires in 2025, releasing over 38 million tonnes of CO₂.
Among EU member states, only Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Czech Republic avoided wildfires.
Italy and Romania reported the most incidents, with over 450 blazes each.
Yet the most severe damage occurred elsewhere.
Cyprus reported only three fires, but they caused catastrophic losses.
Spain lost more than 400,000 hectares since January, while Portugal lost over 260,000 hectares.
Those numbers equal 0.8% of Spain’s landmass and 3% of Portugal’s territory.
Preparing for a Tougher Future
Experts warn such conditions will become increasingly common, straining firefighting systems.
Held explained that current resources already operate at their limits.
He urged preparation of landscapes to give firefighters safer, more efficient conditions.
Techniques include vegetation reduction through controlled burning, grazing, or clearing.
Other strategies involve agroforestry systems, blending agriculture with tree management in shared environments.
