The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, Yacine El-Mahdi Walid, oversaw the installation of the National Committee for Forest Protection for the year 2026 on Saturday at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Forest Protection.
In his speech, Minister Yacine Walid explained that this installation is not merely a periodic coordination meeting but represents an important strategic milestone for evaluating national efforts during the previous season and anticipating measures to strengthen the forest fire prevention and control system to enhance readiness against a challenge classified as a major risk in Algeria.
He added that forest fires have become one of the most prominent major risks in recent years, increasing in intensity due to global climate changes.
The Minister recalled the scale of forest fires in Algeria over the last decade, noting that the country recorded an annual average of approximately 40,000 hectares of burned forest areas.
Yacine Walid revealed the adoption of a new strategy based on a proactive and participatory approach among various sectors, which has succeeded in reducing these burned areas over the past two years.
In a related context, the Minister disclosed that the total burned area in 2025 reached 5,289 hectares.
He emphasized that the results recorded during the past two years reflect the effectiveness of this national strategy in the field of forest fire prevention, noting that these results would not have been achieved without the comprehensive mobilization of state institutions under the directives of the country’s high authorities.
The Minister also praised the pivotal role of the People’s National Army, security services, Civil Protection, and the Forest Administration, along with various ministerial sectors that mobilize with a high national spirit.
