Expert: Human factor significant as forest fires increase in Southern Europe

Climate change is undeniably exacerbating forest fires across Southern Europe, making them more frequent and destructive. However, experts emphasize that environmental shifts alone do not account for the scale of the crisis; the "human element" is a significant contributing factor, according to Johan Sjöström, a forest fire expert at the Rise research institute.

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The human factor is significant.

Sjöström explains that while extreme weather conditions like prolonged droughts, high temperatures, and strong winds, all linked to climate change, create ideal conditions for fires, human activities and land management practices are equally critical. Many parts of Southern Europe historically experienced dry summers but did not suffer such widespread fires due to intensive land use and higher population density.

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It becomes a perfect cocktail.

In recent decades, the abandonment of small, traditional farms has led to the reforestation of vast areas. While forests are beneficial for moisture retention, the types of trees often planted, such as maritime pine with low-hanging branches and long needles, become highly flammable fuel. Furthermore, abandoned houses and farms contribute to overgrown, dry vegetation that can easily ignite and spread fires rapidly, connecting previously separate areas and increasing the overall risk. Sjöström suggests that strategic grazing by goats and sheep, as well as controlled burns, could help mitigate these risks.

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Large parts of Southern Europe have not had large fires even though it has always been long, dry and hot summers because the landscape has been so hard-used and very densely populated.