Farming and droughts fuel South America's worsening wildfire crisis

Wildfires in South America's dry forests are largely caused by farming expansion. A new study highlights how droughts and land-clearing practices fuel these blazes. The findings also assess the impact of upcoming EU regulations on deforestation-linked trade. The Gran Chaco region has faced repeated fires for decades. Since 1985, at least two-thirds of the area has burned at least once. Farmers frequently use fire as a cheap way to clear land, especially during droughts when dry conditions make burning easier.

The EU's deforestation-free supply chain law, due in late 2026, will ban imports of soy and beef from land deforested after December 2020. However, a separate EU regulation from December 2024 has yet to show clear effects on fire activity. Despite these rules, deforestation rates remain high, driven by cattle ranching and soy farming. Researchers note that while droughts increase fire risks, the main cause of blazes is still agricultural expansion. The study provides data to track whether future regulations reduce deforestation and wildfires in the region.

The EU's upcoming trade restrictions aim to curb deforestation-linked imports. Yet recent years, including 2023–2024, still show persistent burning in the Gran Chaco. The study's findings will help monitor whether new laws lead to measurable changes in fire and land-use patterns.