Puglia wildfires destroy over 12,600 hectares of land

Wildfires in the Puglia region of Italy have destroyed over 12,600 hectares of land during the 2026 summer season, according to data from the EFFIS Copernicus system analyzed by Coldiretti Puglia. The province of Bari was the hardest hit, accounting for approximately 49.1% of the total burned area with 6,221 hectares.

The Alta Murgia National Park area was a major epicenter of the emergency, with 7,928 hectares burned. Significant damage was concentrated in the municipalities of Gravina in Puglia, Altamura, and Minervino Murge. Beyond the loss of forests and biodiversity, the fires devastated pastures, crops, livestock infrastructure, and agricultural productivity.

Coldiretti Puglia has called for immediate improvements in prevention and territory monitoring to intercept outbreaks before they become uncontrollable. The association has also requested urgent intervention from regional authorities to ensure that affected farmers and ranchers do not lose access to EU community aid due to land-use restrictions on burned areas.