There is unanimity in saying that the drying out of vegetation due to climate change was the main cause of the Australian fires that burned more than 5.8 million hectares —of the 154.5 million in total—between September 2019 and January 2020. However, a controversy remains latent within the scientific community and arose again as a result of this natural catastrophe that submerged a country under clouds of ashes. What factor worsens fires in the world: excessive protection or forest exploitation? An article published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, focused on Australia, opts for the second option, while other experts disagree.
