2024 becomes Brazil’s deadliest fire season, as devastating flames swept the country due to an extreme drought exacerbated by climate change. According to the Fire Annual Report published by MapBiomas, a group of non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and technological companies that have been tracking Brazil’s biomes since 2019, more than 30.87 million hectares of wilderness—the equivalent of an area the size of Italy—were destroyed by fire between January and December. The magnitude of the situation is underscored by the fact that this number represents a 62% increase above the historical annual average of 18.5 million hectares. Sixty-four percent of the impacted land was burned more than once between 1985 and 2024, and 43 percent of all burned areas since 1985 occurred in the previous decade alone. This catastrophe, which covers 206 million hectares, or 25% of Brazil’s land area, equivalent to the combined territories of the states of Pará and Mato Grosso, demonstrates the growing impact of climate change and human activities on the nation’s diverse ecosystems.

Devastation Across Biomes: Pantanal, Cerrado, and Beyond

All biomes were impacted as 2024 became Brazil’s deadliest fire season, but the Pantanal was most severely damaged. Since 2019, nearly 62% of this wetland biome—the largest tropical wetland in the world—has burned at least once, with 93% of the fires occurring in native vegetation, such as marshes and grasslands. According to Eduardo Rosa, Pantanal biome mapping coordinator at MapBiomas, a protracted drought near the Paraguay River, which began after the last significant flood in 2018, has caused the burnt area in the Pantanal to rise by 157% above its historical average. The most considerable fire recurrence was recorded in Brazil’s tropical savanna, the Cerrado, where 3.7 million hectares burned more than 16 times in 40 years. A 10% increase from the Cerrado’s average of 9.6 million hectares resulted in 10.6 million hectares being impacted in 2024. In contrast to the biome’s historical fire patterns, IPAM researcher Vera Arruda attributed this development to an increase in dry-season fires caused by human activities and climate change.

Often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” the Amazon experienced its worst fire season in four decades, scorching 15.6 million hectares, or 52% of the country’s total burned area —an increase of 117% over its historical norm. 6.7 million hectares (43%) of forest vegetation were burned, more than 5.2 million hectares (33.7%) of pastures, making forest vegetation the most damaged land cover for the first time. MapBiomas’ Amazon biome mapping coordinator, Felipe Martenexen, emphasized that these fires were caused by humans and exacerbated by two consecutive years of extreme drought. With 1.2 million hectares burned, 261% more than its historical average of 338,400 hectares, the Atlantic Forest also established a sobering record, marking the most significant annual loss since 1985. Natalia Crusco, from the MapBiomas Atlantic Forest team, emphasized the susceptibility of the biome’s few remaining forest remnants to fires that harm public health and damage vital ecosystem services.

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The Role of Mega Fires and Seasonal Patterns

With nearly a third (29%) of the total burned area touching more than 100,000 hectares, 2024 becomes Brazil’s deadliest fire season, marked by an alarming increase in mega fire events. This is a significant departure from the historical average, where 27% of fires affected areas between 10 and 250 hectares. The severity of the drought and the number of human-caused ignitions are reflected in this increase. Seasonally, 72% of the burned lands occurred between August and October, with September accounting for a third of the total. This corresponds to the peak dry season when low humidity and flammable vegetation provide the perfect conditions for fire. According to Ane Alencar, the MapBiomas Fire coordinator and science director at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), the report is an essential tool for influencing territorial fire management and public policy, enabling practical firefighting efforts and targeted preventive measures based on identified hotspots and critical periods.

The change in the types of vegetation further demonstrates the severity of the issue. In 2024, forest formations overtook savanna formations in terms of the amount of land burned, with 7.7 million hectares torched, a 287% increase over their historical norm. This shift highlights the exceptional character of the 2024 fires, as does the increase in the area of vegetation burned by flames to 72.7% (21.8 million hectares) compared to an average of 69.5% since 1985. Even wet habitats were turned into tinderboxes by the mix of dry weather, human land-clearing activities, and climate-driven dryness, which increased the extent of the devastation.

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Ecological and Societal Impacts: A Call for Action

The 2024 wildfires have had a severe ecological impact, endangering Brazil’s ecosystem services and biodiversity. The frequent burning of the Pantanal, which has burned 72% of its total area more than once, disrupts the wetland ecology and puts animals like caimans and jaguars at risk. The loss of forest cover in the Amazon reduces its capacity to absorb carbon, which could cause the ecosystem to shift further towards a savanna-like condition. While the Cerrado’s high fire frequency endangers its distinctive flora and wildlife, the degradation of the Atlantic Forest further reduces its biodiversity. In addition, these fires alter local temperatures, release enormous amounts of carbon dioxide, and deteriorate the quality of the soil and water, all of which contribute to global warming.

The impact on society is equally severe. Millions have been affected by the deteriorated air quality caused by the smoke from the fires, which has also exacerbated respiratory health problems. Rural communities—especially Indigenous communities—face loss of customary lands, food scarcity, and displacement. Damage to agricultural areas has decreased tourism, and increased firefighting expenses are among the economic repercussions. The increase in fires, caused by human activity and drought, offsets the 30.6% decrease in deforestation that INPE reported for the year ending July 31, 2024. This presents a challenge for Brazil as it prepares to host COP30 in November 2025.

A diversified approach is required to address this challenge. It is crucial to invest in drought-resilient land management, increase enforcement against unlawful land removal, and strengthen fire prevention through controlled burns. Community-led fire departments and international collaboration, such as Brazil’s assistance to Bolivia in 2024, present encouraging opportunities. However, tackling the underlying causes—deforestation, climate change, and poor governance—requires structural changes in policy, innovative funding, and international assistance. Brazil’s ecosystems and populations face an increasingly hazardous future if immediate action is not taken, as the 2024 fire season presents a clear reminder.

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