Over the last two decades, fires have caused more than a quarter of all tree cover loss. In 2023 alone, 400 million hectares were consumed by flames—an area twice the size of Mexico.
When a forest burns, more than just the trees are destroyed. Forest fires cause biodiversity loss by obliterating natural habitats; they release large quantities of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change; and they degrade the soil and contaminate water resources.
Today, more than half of forest fire-related costs go toward rapid response. But less than 1 percent is spent on planning for and preventing this environmental threat.
A spark of hope
If there is hope for the world's forested areas, it can be found in Costa Rica's Volunteer Forest Fire Brigade.
“It’s a high-risk profession,” says Pamela Campos, a biologist and Brigade member. “But it's what we love."
Some have come close to death on more than one occasion. Others have suffered serious health effects. This group of 154 women and 373 men volunteer to look after 26 percent of the country's territory, natural spaces that shelter and house 6 percent of the planet’s biodiversity — even at the cost of their own health.