Iraq
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In 2020, Iraq had 18.9 kha of natural forest, extending over < 0.1% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 2 ha of natural forest, equivalent to 2.62 kt of CO₂ emissions.
Explore interactive charts and maps that summarize forest fires in Iraq. Statistics – including regions with the most fire alerts and how current fires compare to historical trends – can be customized, easily shared and downloaded for offline use.
Weekly Fire Alerts in Iraq
In Iraq the peak fire season typically begins in mid-January and lasts around 52 weeks. There were 11,514 VIIRS fire alerts reported between 25th of March 2024 and 24th of March 2025 considering high confidence alerts only. This is normal compared to previous years going back to 2012.

  • Mar 2024–Mar 2025

  • Normal Range

  • Above/Below Normal Range

MarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMar0200400600800
2025-03-242024-03-25

To include all detected fire alerts, go to the widget settings icon and readjust the confidence level to all.

Cumulative Fire Alerts in Iraq
In Iraq there have been 2,355 VIIRS fire alerts reported so far in 2025 considering high confidence alerts only. This total is high compared to the total for previous years going back to 2012. The most fires recorded in a year was 2019, with 17,804.

  • 2025

  • Normal Range

  • Above/Below Normal Range

DecFebMarAprMayJunJulSepOctNovDec04.5k9.0k14k18kLatest data
2025-12-222024-12-30
Tree cover loss due to fires in Iraq
From 2001 to 2023, Iraq lost 22 ha of tree cover from fires and 119 ha from all other drivers of loss. The year with the most tree cover loss due to fires during this period was 2003 with 7 ha lost to fires — 38% of all tree cover loss for that year.
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'2305.0101520ha
>30% tree canopy
Regions with the most fire Alerts in Iraq
Historical Fire Alerts in Iraq
Between 29th of March 2021 and 24th of March 2025 Iraq experienced a total of 33,274 VIIRS Alerts fire alerts.
2025-03-242011-01-03
Regions with most tree cover loss due to fires in Iraq
From 2003 to 2011, Maysan had the highest rate of tree cover loss due to fires with an average of 1 ha lost per year.
>30% tree canopy
Proportion of tree cover loss due to fires in Iraq
Fires were responsible for 15% of tree cover loss in Iraq between 2001 and 2023.

  • Tree cover loss from other sources

    119 ha

  • Tree cover loss from fires

    22 ha
>30% tree canopy | these estimates do not take tree cover gain into account

  • Fire Alerts (VIIRS)

    *a maximum of 3 months of fires data can be shown on the map

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