Available evidence suggests there has been plenty of rain across Jamaica in the early months of 2025 — perhaps even more than usual in the traditionally dry period from January through March.

For sure, Jamaicans know from casual observation that wet weather adversely affected road repair and rehabilitation programmes last year and since the start of 2025.

We also know that “water out fire”. Hence our surprise at news in the Sunday Observer’s latest edition that there has been an uptick in wildfire damage in forested areas during the first few months up to early May.

That, we are told, is continuation of a trend in recent years.

The article, headlined ‘Up in flames… Jamaica’s forest reserve dwindling annually due to fires’, tells us that, according to the Forestry Department, with seven months left in the year, 52.48 acres of (Jamaica’s) forest reserve were destroyed by fire up to May 6.

For all of last year, 104.42 acres was reportedly destroyed. Alarmingly, last year’s figure almost tripled the 38.62 acres of forest reserves ruined by fire in 2023. That was up from 2020 when just 16 acres were affected, 22.62 acres in 2021, and 31.13 acres in 2022.

Accelerating climate change featuring extremities in global weather patterns — including unusually high temperatures in recent years — not only help to sustain fires but provide the trigger in some cases.

We also know that carelessness, negligence, and even ignorance of danger are among the prime causes of wildfires.

For example, fires springing from farmers’ clearing land for planting, householders burning garbage, thoughtless disposal of a cigarette butt in a dry patch, and so forth, are commonplace.

A big part of the problem is that far too many Jamaicans take trees and forests for granted. Many people have little or no idea of the absolute indispensability of trees and forests to human existence — not just in terms of fruits and lumber but for the very air we breathe.

Scientists assert that the widespread destruction of forests across the planet — much of it with the use of fire — since the start of the Industrial Age in the latter 18th century has contributed significantly to climate change. That’s largely because deforestation causes the release of stored carbons or greenhouse gases which trap heat and warm the planet.

It’s also well established that our forest reserves and other tree-covered areas are essential for the protection and sustenance of water sources, prevention of soil erosion and major land slippages.

Crucially, wildlife literally cannot cope without forests and trees. What would birds do without trees?

For all of those reasons, Jamaica’s Forestry Department is diligently working to replant and restore fire-damaged forest reserves. We are told that once areas are burnt they are targeted for replanting.

We hope and expect that process happens quickly.

Also, the Forestry Department and Jamaica Fire Brigade are said to be paying close attention to public education, with involvement of communities in fire management and prevention training.

It’s no secret that resource limitations do tend to slow down, even hinder, vital public education programmes such as this one. However, we are hopeful that, as much as possible, schools and related forums are being targeted. Everyone knows there is no better place to start in the drive to build awareness than among the very young.