Number of major wild fires by continent and decade since 1950
Within industrial countries, the area burned by fires is declining but the number of major fires is increasing. In the United States, for example, the area burned has declined by more than 90% since 1930, while in Sweden the area burned annually fell from about 12,000 hectares in 1876 to about 400 hectares in 1989.
Year: 2007
From collection: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Cartographer: Philippe Rekacewicz, Emmanuelle Bournay, UNEP/GRID-Arendal