Wildfires are ruinous - so how to stop them happening in the first place?

In the wake of destruction caused by wildfires, most recently in Australia, experts are seeking ways of limiting their impact by managing forests better

Vast waves of fire have torn through Australia in recent months, leaving forests of skinned trees in their wake. The wildfires have been one of the most damaging in the country's history - more than 11m hectares (27m acres) have burned, killing 33 people and decimating wildlife populations.

But they are just the latest in a succession of destructive blazes that have been flaring across the planet - even in the Arctic circle - in the past five years. The response from authorities, in Australia, the Americas and the Mediterranean often seems scrambled and ineffective.