Abstract:
Characterized by an arid and semi-arid climate, Algeria is more likely to feel the effects of climate changes, which can cause extreme events and natural risks such as forest fires, which are at the top of the list identified by the UN, especially in the Mediterranean regions.
The hills of Constantine which is a part of northern Algeria, where physical and human conditions (type of vegetation, climate, relief ...) are combined to favour this scourge.
With the climate changes observed in recent decades, the forest fires have increased and are seriously threatening the forest ecosystems.
An analysis of the evolution of climatic data for the previous and current period as well as the released water balance highlights in the recent decades (1980 - 2012), an increase of the temperatures and a decrease of rainfalls, which were Among other causes that have increased the frequency of forest fires.
The consequences of forest fires are apparent in the region, the transformation of landscapes is present everywhere, it allows to understand the extent of shrinkage of the forest area; the maquis, which continue to expand, express the degradation of the forest cover.
Forest fires can be minimized only through a prevention which is based on risk assessment, and is the only way to reduce the cost of damages caused during major forest fires.
