Extreme Wildfires: A Growing Threat—and a Call to Support Indigenous and Community Leadership

This paper discusses how extreme wildfires are increasingly threatening Indigenous- and community-held forests in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Using tree cover loss data from 2001–2024, it compares fire impacts across land management types and finds these lands generally have the lowest deforestation rates but face rising wildfire risks. The study highlights the importance of ending deforestation, strengthening land rights, and supporting Indigenous leadership to protect forests, biodiversity, climate, and community well-being.