Slash and burn methods of clearing the rainforest can often rage out of control

Where they occur: Tropical areas around the Equator and in areas of the tropics that have a dry season

Occurrences per year: Hard to say - many fires are started intentionally. 150,000 sq km (58,000 sq miles) are destroyed by fire/logging per year

Casualties: Countless species of plants and animals

Rainforest fires move slowly through the dense, tropical undergrowth. Many larger trees will be mortally wounded by the flames, finally dying off quite some time after the fire has passed.

Fire is used to clear areas of rainforest, so the land can be used for farming. These fires often rage out of control. Between 1997 and 1998, an estimated 200,000 sq km (77,220 sq miles) of rainforest in Asia and Latin America was destroyed by fires that were raging uncontrollably.

Emissions from these fires equalled around 40% of the world’s carbon emissions from fossil fuels for the same period. Rainforest fires like these have a huge impact on local wildlife and vegetation as well as the world’s ecosystem. Pollution and the loss of natural gasses produced by rainforests can influence our climate and affect the health of millions.