NRW Minister calls for improved wildfire prevention

North Rhine-Westphalia Agriculture Minister Silke Gorißen has called for increased measures to combat wildfires following significant blazes in Germany and Belgium. The fires in the Hohes Venn nature reserve in Belgium, located near the German border, have burned for several days. In the German town of Monschau, approximately 30 residents of the Kalterherberg district were evacuated due to heavy smoke.

While the fire in Hürtgenwald has been brought under control after intensive efforts, Gorißen emphasized the need for long-term forest restructuring. This involves planting climate-resilient tree species that are less prone to catching fire. The Minister noted that 99 percent of wildfires are “man-made” and indicated that authorities are discussing potential temporary bans on entering forests, though she cautioned that such a ban would face legal questions and is not an absolute solution.