2012 Rwenzori wildfire was first in 12,000 years, study finds

A wildfire that swept through Africa's Rwenzori Mountains in 2012 was the first major fire in the region in over 12,000 years. Researchers reached this conclusion by analyzing lake sediments, which revealed a distinct charcoal layer tied to the 2012 event. The findings suggest that human activity and climate change are increasingly disrupting these sensitive high-altitude ecosystems. Evidence from the mountain's lower slopes also points to early human influence and ongoing shifts in forest composition. Scientists warn the results highlight growing threats to fragile Afroalpine environments worldwide.