By Obiabin Onukwugha
Alishbah Shah, an environmental science student has called for the urgency to invest in wild fire prevention and mitigation Shah in a post on his X handle said such move has never been greater to save our beloved Earth.
He said the regions most at risk include;
Western U.S: hot, dry summers and strong winds fuel frequent wildfires, e.g., camp fires and Dixie fire
Mediterranean region: long dry seasons and dense vegetation lead to fires in Greece, Italy, and Turkey
Australia: Extreme heat and droughts drive massive bushfires like the 2019-2020 Black Summer.
Amazon Rainforest: Deforestation and slash-and-burn practices exacerbate fires in this critical ecosystem.
Southeast Asia: Pearland fires and illegal agricultural burning cause annual disasters in Indonesia
Sub-Saharan Africa: Natural and human-induced fires affect savanas in Angola, Zambia and Congo
Canada and Siberia: Boreal forests and vast, dry terrains see worsening wildfires due to climate change.
These regions share common threats: prolonged droughts, high temperatures, dense vegetation, and human activities. Increased funding for climate action,. sustainable land management, and firefighting infrastructure is essential to promote these vital ecosystems and communities.