Europe’s forests are blooming with climate change

• Poisoned by France’s wildfires, the country’s heat waves, and the rising number of fires, but at the same time, the number of new trees is increasing due to climate change.
• DW notes that this is due to the fact that “ice-free” — and the scale of the climate change — is causing the warming in Europe’s forests, which is not only due to the lack of precipitation but also due to the increased number of fires.
• According to DW, in Spain, the number of heat waves with temperatures above 206,000 hectares is increasing; the number of fires is also increasing, which is causing an increase in tourism.

Forests in France and Spain are thriving: wildfires are occurring more frequently, but the number of new plant growth is increasing due to the warm climate. According to Al Jazeera, in the region of Gironde and in the department of Var, the scale of forest fires has been smaller than in other regions since 1949, when the number of new trees began to increase due to climate change.

In Spain, according to Al Jazeera, the number of fires in the central parts of the country is rising. The Madridej wildfire is also spreading, which is why the number of fires has increased. Al Jazeera believes that the fires are spreading due to climate change, and that the French and Spanish authorities are not taking the necessary measures. DW also notes that the fires are being driven by the warming of the climate, and that the number of fires is rising due to the increased number of fires in the regions.

DW’s materials on the causes of European forest fires note that the “ice-free” — the lack of precipitation, and the drying out of forests and vegetation — is a key factor. According to FoRISK, Silvia Abruscato said that the “ice-free” phenomenon is one of the reasons for the increase in the frequency of fires due to climate change.

DW also describes three components that determine wildfire risk: the number of days with high temperatures; the amount of rainfall; and also the duration of dry conditions. The material also notes that climate change can make wildfire conditions more intense, according to World Weather Attribution, which analyzed the situation in France and Spain.

DW’s report on the results of the Copernicus system of the European Space Agency states that in Spain, the number of fires is rising due to climate change. The report also notes that the climate change in Europe can lead to economic losses: according to the Copernicus system, in Spain in 2022, the economic losses from wildfires were around €7.1 billion ($8.1 billion), which is close to 4.5% of the country’s GDP, with the largest losses due to the increase in the number of fires.

DW adds that the economic losses can also be caused by the increased number of fires and the resulting damage to tourism. The report also notes that the economic losses can be linked to the warming of the climate. For example, according to Sarah Meier from ETH Zurich, in regions with higher temperatures, the wildfire risk increases by 0.11%–0.18%, and in other regions it can be up to 4.5%.

DW also points out that the European Commission expects that in the coming years, the number of fires will increase by about 500,000 hectares of land in Europe, including in Spain, Greece, and France. According to Forescat, the most severe impacts are expected: nearly €19,000 for each hectare of land, and also potentially around 400,000 hectares of land in Spain by 2025, which would correspond to about €7.6 billion.

Al Jazeera also reports that Europe’s wildfire risk is increasing due to climate change, and that the number of fires is rising due to the warming of the climate. The report also notes that the number of fires is increasing due to the warming of the climate, and that the number of fires is rising due to the warming of the climate and the lack of precipitation.

Tags: Europe/Weather/Ecology