Over 800 wildfires recorded in Kazakhstan in 2023

Over 800 wildfires were recorded in Kazakhstan in 2023, Kazakh Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev said at today’s Government Hour at the Majilis.

The country’s state forestry fund makes 30.9 million hectares, including 13.7 million hectares of woodlands. The forests occupy 5% of the country’s territory. 810 forest fires raged 116,800 hectares of land, including 61,100 hectares of woodlands.

Lightning caused 498 wildfires. 87 fires occurred on agricultural land, while the causes of 194 fires are undetermined. At the same time, 30 fires are reported as human-sparked.

Notably, the global climate change has already led to an increase in wildfires. Asia is warming faster than the global average by 4 degrees.