Wildfire risks increase across Germany and the United Kingdom

Recent data highlights the increasing impact of wildfires across Europe. In Germany, an analysis by DIW Berlin reveals that in 2026, twice as much area burned compared to the ten-year average, totaling 4,345 hectares. While forest fires account for only one-fifth of this area, the majority of the burned land consists of heath, moorland, and grassland. Experts note that although forest fires cover less area, they cause more severe ecological damage due to the decades required for regrowth.

In the United Kingdom, a report from Rewilding Britain suggests that rewilding projects may offer resilience against increasing fire risks. Out of 285 projects monitored, only one was directly affected by wildfires between March and August 2026. The report argues that restoring natural processes, such as rewetting peatlands and creating diverse habitat mosaics, can help landscapes withstand and slow the spread of fires. This was exemplified in the Elan Valley, Wales, where rewetting helped protect certain areas during a large fire.

Across the European Union, approximately 742,000 hectares burned by the end of September, marking the third-highest value for this time of year in the last decade.