New satellite data alliance to help tackle wildfires

From the newsletter

OroraTech and the Earth Fire Alliance have partnered to expand access to satellite-based wildfire intelligence in Africa. The collaboration unites their thermal detection and monitoring systems to make real-time fire data available to regions that have traditionally lacked the tools needed to respond quickly to emerging fires.

• Early services will prioritise fire management in conservation areas, including Kruger National Park in South Africa. 

• The agreement will extend to other protected areas like Etosha National Park in Namibia which recently experienced wildfires that killed at least nine antelopes and threatened the critically endangered black rhinos and other wildlife.

More details

• The collaboration will combine OroraTech’s FOREST satellite network with data from the Earth Fire Alliance’s FireSat constellation. Both systems are built to detect thermal anomalies, predict wildfires, track fire movement and provide frequent updates. Integrating these datasets is expected to create a more comprehensive picture of fire behaviour across remote ecosystems and wildlife areas.

• According to the organisations, improved access to satellite-derived alerts can support more efficient deployment of ranger units and fire teams. The partners stated that the initiative is meant to complement existing national systems while providing additional data to regions without domestic satellite capabilities. 

• The partners will also work with conservation organisations to expand the use of predictive tools that assess fire risk and potential spread. These tools rely on thermal data and historical fire patterns. Their application in African conservation settings could strengthen integrated fire management practices that combine prevention and post-fire monitoring.

• Wildfires are on the rise in Africa as a result of hotter temperatures, compounded by climate change. In September 2025, a fire destroyed roughly a third of Namibia’s Etosha National Park over the course of a week. The blaze spread into surrounding grazing land near Angola. Strong winds and dry vegetation fuelled it, killing at least nine antelopes and threatening critically endangered black rhinos and other wildlife.

• There have also been incidences of frequent wildfires in Kenya and Mozambique. These fires have wide-ranging impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. They can cause direct injury or death to animals, destroy habitats, reduce available food and water and disrupt breeding and migration patterns. Fires also alter soil composition and vegetation structure, while nutrient runoff and toxins affect water quality, collectively undermining biodiversity protection. 

Our take

• Early detection of wildfires is essential for reducing damage to wildlife habitats and forested landscapes. 

• Wildfires are more frequent due to climate change making access to real-time intelligence essential for protecting ecosystems and wildlife corridors across the continent.