Lake cores show 2012 Rwenzori wildfire was first in 12,000 years, with 100-fold charcoal rise

In 2012, a wildfire swept across Africa's Rwenzori Mountains, marking the first such event in over 12,000 years. Analysis of lake sediments uncovered a significant charcoal marker linked to this fire, indicating that human actions and climate change are altering these delicate mountain ecosystems. The lower slopes reveal early human impact and ongoing forest shifts, highlighting the escalating threats to the fragile Afroalpine environments.

By TOI Science Desk