In the summer of 2021, the hills of northeastern Algeria disappeared behind walls of smoke. Wildfires swept through Béjaïa, El Tarf, and Tizi Ouzou with a speed and ferocity that overwhelmed communities and firefighters alike. More than 100 people lost their lives. Forests that had sustained families for generations - supporting livelihoods, sheltering livestock, and anchoring watersheds - were gone in days. The damage to agriculture and housing alone exceeded US$124 million.
The devastation of 2021 reflected a risk that had been building for years.
Between 1985 and 2022, Algeria recorded more than 75,000 forest fires. Every year, an average of 35,000 hectares burns, the equivalent of 50,000 soccer fields. What has changed is not just the frequency of fire, but its intensity: longer droughts, rising temperatures, and land degradation have contributed to the rise of mega-fires that move faster, burn hotter, and leave far greater destruction behind. The trend is not slowing.
Behind these numbers were farmers, herders, beekeepers, and families whose livelihoods vanished overnight, and wildlife habitats were destroyed. Beyond the immediate loss, forest destruction weakens critical watershed functions and reduces the landscape’s ability to regulate and store water, with consequences that can last for years.
From fighting fires to managing fire risk
For decades, the response focused primarily on suppressing fires once they had started. But as fire seasons grow longer and more intense, managing fire risk requires action across the spectrum, from prevention and preparedness to response and recovery.
“Addressing forest fires in Algeria requires a shift from reactive response to prevention, resilient landscape management, and stronger environmental stewardship,” said Maria Sarraf, World Bank Practice Manager for Environment, Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Region. “Protecting forests is critical for biodiversity, water security, ecosystem resilience, and the livelihoods that depend on them. “
In response, the Government of Algeria, with support from the World Bank Group through PROGREEN – a multi-donor trust fund for sustainable and resilient forests and landscapes – undertook a comprehensive diagnostic of the forest sector. The goal was to understand how to fight fires, why they are becoming more destructive, and what it will take to reduce long-term risk.
The findings reveal a forest sector facing multiple challenges. Many forest management plans need updating, limiting the ability to reduce fire risks through active forest management. Boundary registration remains incomplete, exposing forests to encroachment and competing land uses. Data systems are fragmented, making it difficult to generate a comprehensive picture of forest conditions and fire risks. Coordination gaps across institutions continue to affect preparedness and response, while pressures such as overgrazing, land clearing, and inconsistent enforcement contribute to forest degradation and increase vulnerability to fire.
Addressing these challenges requires a more integrated approach to fire risk management. Efforts are now focused on strengthening the foundations of a modern forest fire management system through early warning tools, improved data and mapping systems, stronger institutional coordination, and enhanced technical capacity at both national and local levels. Together, these measures aim to improve preparedness, strengthen prevention, and reduce wildfire risks over the long term.
A pilot initiative is being implemented in Béjaïa, Algeria’s second-most-affected province by forest fires: Between 1985 and 2022, nearly 5,300 fires burned more than 144,000 hectares. Here, dense settlements and forests intersect, increasing fire risks. An investment plan is being developed to scale up early-warning and response systems for forest fires nationwide. This combines institutional support with targeted investments in infrastructure and equipment such as cameras, drones, access roads, and water systems.
Reforms are also underway. The adoption of the 2023 Forestry Law and the 2024 Law on Disaster Risk Management mark major steps toward strengthening fire risk governance, enabling private investment, and promoting greater community participation in forest management.
“Wildfire risk management in Algeria is evolving toward a more integrated and anticipatory model that prioritizes prevention, preparedness, and resilience rather than emergency response alone,” said Professor Hamid Afra, National Delegate for Major Risks, National Delegation for Major Risks, Ministry of Interior, Local Collectivities and Transports, Algeria. “Investing in modern systems, coordinated action, and healthier forest ecosystems is essential to reducing wildfire risks in a changing climate.”
Reducing fire risk through stronger forest economies
Managing fire risk goes well beyond better firefighting systems. When forests are degraded and underutilized, fire risks increase. Algeria is beginning to unlock significant economic opportunities in its forest sector, creating jobs and income that encourage surrounding communities to better protect forests. Non-timber forest products such as cork, resin, essential oils, and medicinal plants offer strong potential for value addition and job creation. Ecotourism is another growing opportunity, with millions already visiting national parks each year.
The new approach places communities and municipalities at the center of prevention efforts by involving them directly in forest management. Youth engagement is particularly important, both to address unemployment and to build a new generation of forest stewards.
Algeria is at a turning point. This transition will require a shift in mindset from seeing fire as an isolated emergency to understanding it as part of a broader system shaped by climate, land use, and economic realities.
“What we are seeing in Algeria is a strong recognition that forest fires are no longer only an environmental issue,” said Cemile Hacibeyoglu Ceren, World Bank Resident Representative for Algeria. “They are a development challenge. Supporting these efforts means helping build systems that can better protect both people and natural resources in the years ahead.”
Forest fires cannot be eliminated, but their impacts can be significantly reduced. With the right investments and support from institutions and communities, Algeria's forests can be key contributors to a more resilient future.