Risk of forest fire in Brandenburg: A look back at the devastating numbers

Risk of forest fire in Brandenburg: A look back at the devastating numbers

Forests in danger: Climate change as the main cause of rising forest fire driven

The times when the weather in Berlin and Brandenburg only spoke about sunshine and pleasant temperatures are over. The increasing drought and the insufficient rainfall are just a few of the factors that increase the risk of devastating forest fires in the region.

The current statistics of the Federal Information Center Agriculture (BZL) clearly shows how strong Brandenburg is affected by the forest fires. Last year 251 fires were counted there, which destroyed a total of 765 hectares of forest. These numbers illustrate the urgency to take measures to protect the forests.

Cause research: Why the causes of fire are often in the dark

Most forest fires in Brandenburg and other affected federal states remain puzzling in terms of their causes. According to the BZL, around 77% of the fires could not be clearly assigned, while 14% were due to negligence.

The flammable pine forests and the sandy soils in Brandenburg certainly contribute to the risk. Overall, however, it is the effects of climate change that play an ever greater role in the development of forest fires. Dry periods, heat and wind are just a few of the factors that create an ideal breeding ground for fires.

It is time to focus on protecting the forests and take measures to contain the influence of climate change. This is the only way to reduce the threat from forest fires in the long term and preserve the valuable ecosystems in our region.

- Nag