This is undoubtedly one of the other challenges that Algeria faces: how to manage its forests sustainably and efficiently to fight against the fires that cause immeasurable damage to fauna and flora every year?

In addition to the significant direct economic costs they generate, forest fires also cause indirect costs which impact users and the State: loss of forest heritage and services provided by ecosystems.

This summer, numerous fires ravaged thousands of hectares of forests in several wilayas of the country, notably those in the East, and particularly Bejaia, known for their high level of forest cover.

Forest fires in Algeria: 20,000 hectares reduced to ashes each year

According to a World Bank report prepared jointly with the Algerian government, represented by the General Directorate of Forests and the National Delegation of Major Risks, entitled “Note on Algerian forests: sustainable management of forests to fight against forest fires”, Some 20,000 hectares are consumed by flames each year in Algeria.

These forest fires cost on average 2.5 billion DA for 35,000 ha of burned forests. In 2021 and 2022, material damage (agriculture and homes) is estimated at 15.4 billion DA and 1.5 billion DA respectively.

The major forest fires (Fires exceeding 100 ha) in Algeria took the lives of respectively 103 and 54 citizens in 2021 – the year where the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou was particularly affected with the tragic assassination of Djamel Bensmail – and 2022.

Often the subject of speculation, sometimes far-fetched, even political, the causes of forest fires in Algeria, although quite complex, nevertheless remain difficult to identify even if the anthropic cause (human responsibility) seems the most widespread.

“For the period 2000-2020, official available data show that the share of forest fires of unknown origin would be 85%, out of the total declared forest fires. The share of intentional forest fires, which are difficult to identify, is estimated at 6%,” according to the World Bank report.

Based on a scientific study carried out in a sample of wilayas, the World Bank report notes that the majority of forest fire outbreaks result essentially from anthropogenic and voluntary causes: pastoral fires for the renewal of pastures, incineration uncontrolled landfills, land use changes and honey collection.

Also, neglect fires are caused, in order of importance, by the throwing of cigarette butts, agricultural work (burning after cleaning, burning of stubble), the resumption of fire and logging activities in the forest.

“The causes of forest fires are essentially invariable over time, as they are mainly linked to local culture and traditions. The only natural cause of forest fires, lightning, remains very rare and little known in Algeria. It does not even appear in the aforementioned statistics, even in mountainous regions, undoubtedly because of the rarity of summer storms,” underlines the World Bank report.

“In the absence of solid statistics on the causes of forest fires, it is difficult for the sector to put in place relevant strategies for awareness-raising, communication and integration of the social groups responsible. It is, therefore, necessary to refine the collection and processing of information: adoption of a standardized nomenclature of the causes of forest fires (EFFIS), training of field personnel, systematization of the search for the causes and circumstances of fires, implementation establishment of interinstitutional units in charge, a dynamic recording and data sharing tool,” recommends the report.

Faced with the scale of the phenomenon which risks being accentuated in the future by climate change, Algeria, which has made enormous efforts, both human and logistical, is working, according to the report, to refine its strategy.

Forest fires in Algeria: alarming figures

In this context, in addition to the resources mobilized and the policy adopted, a general forest fire prevention plan is being prepared.

Around a hundred pages long, the World Bank report addresses the crucial issues of forest management in Algeria and identifies the main areas of intervention to strengthen the sustainability and climate resilience of the country’s forest resources.

It thus highlights five crucial areas for sustainable forest management and firefighting, through close collaboration between government institutions, civil society, local communities and stakeholders.

“The priority is to ensure sustainable financial resources and investments in the forestry sector,” the report mainly recommends.

In addition, the report emphasizes the importance of placing sustainable forest management and fire risk analysis at the heart of interventions, with the active participation of communities.

Forest fires in Algeria: the most affected wilayas

It also highlights the need to improve governance by clarifying the legal and organizational framework regarding forest management and forest fires.

Additionally, the report emphasizes “better information management through enhanced inter-institutional collaboration.” Finally, it recommends continuing to strengthen the technical capacities of the sector to ensure effective management of forests and fires ,” underlines the press release from the World Bank.

According to Kamel Braham, Resident Representative of the World Bank in Algeria, this report “ offers a road map to Algeria for sustainable management of its forest resources, reduction of forest fire risks and exploitation of potential of forests for greener growth, job creation and better climate resilience.”

For his part, Djamel Touahria, DG of Forests, maintains: “We appreciate this analysis of the forestry sector, the conclusions and recommendations of which are perfectly in line with our vision recorded in the forestry strategy for 2035 and aimed at promoting sustainable management. sustainable, participatory and climate-friendly forestry, benefiting local livelihoods and the environment. This also aligns with the new forestry law, which will accompany the economic, social and climatic changes that have marked our country.”

According to the report’s data, the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou is at the top of the list with 6,887 forest fires between 1985 and 2022 (i.e. 181 FF/year on average). It is the most populated forest Wilaya in Algeria (more than 1.2 million inhabitants).

In addition to Tizi Ouzou, the Wilayas most affected, with 2,000 to 6,000 forest fires in total, are Béjaïa (5,285), Jijel (4,864), Blida (4,416), Tipaza (4,166), El Tarf (4,122), Médéa (3,864), Skikda (3,928), Bouira (3,589), Ain Defla (3,410), Boumerdes (3,121), Chlef (2,871) and Souk Ahras (2,658). There are eight of the coastal Wilayas.