Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries Minister Yacine El Mahdi Oualid installed the 2026 National Forest Protection Commission this Saturday during a ceremony at the General Directorate of Forests headquarters. On this occasion, he emphasized that this installation goes beyond a mere periodic coordination meeting, representing a major strategic step. “It allows for reviewing national efforts from the previous season and defining necessary measures to strengthen the prevention and firefighting system, enhancing preparedness against this major risk in Algeria.”
“Forest fires have become one of the primary environmental threats in recent years, exacerbated by global climate change,” the minister recalled. He also highlighted the scale of fires over the past decade, with an annual average of nearly 40,000 hectares of forest burned. Oualid presented the new national strategy, based on a proactive and participatory approach involving all concerned sectors. This strategy has significantly reduced burned areas over the last two years. For 2025, the total area affected by fires was estimated at 5,289 hectares, far below the historical average.
According to the minister, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of the national forest fire prevention system and “would not have been possible without the full mobilization of state institutions under the impetus of the country’s highest authorities.”
Oualid also paid tribute to the central role played by the People’s National Army (PNA), security services, Civil Protection, the General Directorate of Forests, and various ministries—all mobilized with high patriotic spirit to protect this national heritage. This ceremony aims to prevent fires, safeguard forests, and bolster the country’s resilience against this major risk amid increasingly concerning climate change.