Wildfires: prevention v management

Wildfires are hitting the news again – along with fresh calls to tackle the climate shifts that help fuel them.

Collage of pages from the “Wildfires: prevention v management” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson plan

Published 28 February 2025

Why are places like Los Angeles, Portugal and Brazil more vulnerable than others? And how should global governments react to news of fires?

About this lesson

Use this lesson to help students:

  • Learn about the impact of wildfires around the world
  • Discuss how at-risk countries are trying to prevent fires
  • Debate whether governments should spend more money on the prevention or management of wildfires

These teaching resources are supported by Infosys. The Economist Educational Foundation maintained full editorial control.

  • What if I don't feel confident to teach these kinds of lessons?

    We know that it might be daunting to have conversations in your classroom about race and identity. We've created a guide that gives practical tips on how to handle them with confidence, including:

    • Ensuring all important perspectives are fairly represented, though some arguments might need more exploration, more time, or more challenge
    • Championing facts and challenging misinformation
    • Considering informing parents
    • Being comfortable without an answer for everything

    Read the tips here

Skills and knowledge

Every lesson has a skill and knowledge focus. Click to see this lesson's focus and some of the questions students will answer 

  • Problem solving

    • Step 1: I complete tasks by finding someone to help if I need them
      Did you get any help when plotting wildfires on the map?
    • Step 4: I explore problems by creating different possible solutions
      Did you learn about how wildfires could be prevented and managed by exploring examples from the news?
    • Step 8: I explore complex problems by analysing the causes and effects
      Did you think about what would happen if you spent more money on the prevention or management of wildfires?

  • Knowledge

    I understand why wildfires are happening and what actions countries at risk could take to prevent and manage them
    Where are wildfires happening? What could countries do about them?

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