Global wildfires dropped during 2020 lockdowns but some burned without human help
A new study published in Cell Reports Sustainability shows that global wildfire incidents fell by more than 12% during the first half of 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Forest and grassland fire drops
Researchers found a 27% decrease in forest fires and an 8% drop in grassland fires. These reductions suggest that human activity often contributes to ignition in these specific ecosystems. The data comes from satellite observations analyzed by a team led by Jianghao Wang.
Natural fires still occurred
Despite the overall decline, certain fires intensified even without human intervention during the lockdown period. Scientists note that humans traditionally suppress and manage fires as well as starting them. This complex relationship between people and fire became clearer when outdoor activity stopped.
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