The persistent menace of wildfires continues to devour Kenya's forests, as new data uncover a rise in fire alerts throughout the country. While wildfires are not the primary cause of deforestation, they rank among the major contributors, especially during periods of frequent drought.
Global Forest Watch, a forest monitor providing the latest data on global forests, reveals that Kenya is not exempt from losing forest cover to these destructive fires. Between 2001 and 2021, the country lost 1.98 thousand hectares of tree cover due to wildfires.
Global Forest Watch explains that climate change, coupled with forest degradation and fragmentation, has created more fire-prone conditions worldwide.
With hotter and drier climates, fires - whether ignited by humans or lightning - are more likely to spread over larger areas and at higher temperatures. Forests that have been degraded by logging and disease, as well as fragmented by deforestation, are particularly vulnerable to fire.
Tree cover loss
While agriculture remains the leading driver of forest cover loss, 2017 stands out as the year when Kenya experienced the most significant tree cover loss due to fires, with 178 hectares destroyed.
According to the forest monitor, the peak fire season usually begins in mid-January and lasts for approximately 13 weeks.
Why climate change pokes its nose in good times
Between April 20, 2020, and April 17, 2023, the country witnessed 10,050 fire alerts. From April 18, 2022, to April 17 of this year, around 780 fire alerts were reported nationwide. The forest monitor highlights that these alerts were higher compared to previous years dating back to 2012.
"In Kenya, 34 thousand hectares of land have burned so far in 2022. This total is within the normal range compared to previous years dating back to 2001. The highest number of fires recorded in a year was in 2012, with 1.1 million hectares," states Global Forest Watch.
Furthermore, the data reveals that, in addition to fire alerts, a total of 18,377 deforestation alerts were reported across the country between April 7 and April 14.
