Global forest loss from wildfires has shown a steady upward trend since 2001

Nature · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Researchers created the first high-resolution global map to track how much forest is lost to fire each year. By analyzing satellite data from 2001 to 2019, they found that forest loss due to fire is increasing worldwide, with significant growth observed in tropical regions, subtropical and temperate Australia, and boreal Eurasia.

This study addresses a major gap in environmental science: the lack of a consistent global method for measuring fire-related deforestation at high spatial resolutions. By matching mapped loss areas to unbiased estimators, the team provided a standardized way to quantify these trends across different biomes.

The study utilized satellite-based data to produce a 30-meter resolution map. While it provides a comprehensive global overview, its findings are based on historical satellite observations rather than real-time predictive modeling of future specific events.

Why it matters: Standardizing how we measure forest loss reveals that wildfires are becoming a more significant threat to global forests.

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