‘Exceptionally high number of wildfires in North and South America’

In 2024, North and South America experienced intense wildfires, mainly affecting the Pantanal wetlands, the Amazon, Canada, and the western US. Eastern Eurasia, including within the Arctic Circle, also experienced above-average fire emissions. The regular monitoring of forest fires by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) in various regions around the world revealed this.

Severe drought prevailed in most of the American continent, increasing the risk of significant forest fires. The Amazon region has been experiencing drought since mid-2023. The fire season for the northern tropical regions of South America was particularly intense, and in Bolivia, forest fire emissions also increased in the first months of the year.

Unprecedented forest fire activity

The Pantanal region, the world’s largest tropical wetland, recorded unprecedented forest fire activity in 2024, severely impacting the ecosystem. The CAMS data on carbon emissions from forest fires reflected this unusual increase in forest fire activity in Mato Grosso do Sul (where most of the Pantanal wetlands are located) for May-June.

The total estimated forest fire emissions for Mato Grosso do Sul (18,8 megatons CO2) is the highest in the CAMS dataset of forest fire emissions. The total estimated annual emissions for Amazon (176,6 megatons) have been the highest since 2010.

Air quality

In addition, seasonal forest fire emissions in Mexico and Central America were also higher than average. Nicaragua recorded the highest carbon emissions from forest fires in the CAMS dataset.

In Brazil, but especially in Bolivia, there were intense forest fires all year round. As a result of the fierce fire activity, some areas of Bolivia and Brazil experienced extended periods of severe air quality deterioration – exceeding the concentrations of particulate matter PM2.5 WHO air quality guidelines.