Forest fires and food shortages: two sides of a deadly coin

By Kaja Brown
Institute of Welsh Affairs
August 10, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

©Wiki

WALES — This summer has been extremely hot. In Wales we have experienced several record-breaking heatwaves, with deadly results. Around 2,700 people in England and Wales have died due to the heatwaves, with an average of 440 people dying a day during the peak of June’s extreme heat. Meanwhile, water shortages have led to widespread hose-pipe bans, and a drought status came into effect across all of  Wales. We have also witnessed wildfires across the UK, and some major incidents in both north and south Wales. Although some forest fires are caused by human activities – such as discarded cigarettes, campfires, and arson – these fires are more likely to catch and spread widely due to plants and bracken that have been dried out during heatwaves. This summer paints a worrying picture of what our future may look like, as temperatures continue to rise. It is a particularly sobering thought that this is likely to be one of the coolest summers of the rest of our lives.

Read More