Retrospective Study of the Impact of the 2021 Forest Fires on Land Areas in Algeria: The Case of Khenchela Forests

ABSTRACT In the summer of 2021, Algeria faced severe heat waves that led to extensive forest fires, particularly impacting the wilaya of Khenchela. Although forest fires occurred throughout the entire summer, the most intense and destructive events were recorded in July 2021, causing extensive ecological damage. This study focuses on mapping and assessing the damage caused by the summer 2021 forest fires in Khenchela, using Landsat satellite data and the Differential Normalized Burn Ratio. The analysis identified that the Ouled Yakoub and Beni Oudjana forests, located in the communes of Tamza and Chelia, were the most affected. The total burned area in Khenchela exceeded 9800 ha, with Ouled Yakoub losing over 6400 ha and Beni Oudjana more than 3000 ha, together accounting for approximately 97% of the total burned area. The 2021 fire was the most destructive event in the region from 2011 to 2021. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) mapping before and after the fire revealed an almost total absence of vegetation within the burned areas, reflecting the severe impact of the fire on vegetation cover. In contrast, non‐affected areas showed a slight increase in NDVI, likely due to seasonal vegetation recovery during the early autumn period. According to the detailed analysis of climatic parameters, 2021 was identified as the hottest and driest year in the past 11 years, with a significant rainfall deficit of −35.02%, and notable increases in average, maximum, and minimum temperatures by +1.25°C, +1.50°C, and +0.55°C respectively. Importantly, the study suggests that these extreme climatic conditions contributed to the severity of the fire and, in the context of climate change, such conditions may become more frequent. This highlights the need for improved fire monitoring and intervention strategies.