Investigating the potential impact of climatic conditions on fire occurrence in Lebanon

Abstract

As Lebanon has experienced an increasing number of fires, this work aimed at assessing the potential impact of climatic conditions on fire occurrence in the country. The results showed an increasing trend of fire events especially in high altitudinal ranges of vegetation levels. Simultaneously, increasing drought conditions were observed in high mountain lands. The results of this study strongly supported a link between changing climatic conditions and fire occurrence in Lebanon. This has resulted in clear impact on vulnerable forest ecosystems, however, a more detailed analysis about the consequences of frequent and intense fires on both vulnerable community livelihood and the natural environment is yet to be assessed.