Imagine yourself in the shoes of someone living in a wildfire danger zone, with the risk of losing everything at any moment. For millions around the world, this is an everyday reality. Current research shows that whilst the total area burned by wildfires is decreasing, there has been a rise in fire intensity. Vulnerable forest habitats are facing an increase in severe fires that have extreme consequences for both ecological and human communities. A new study highlights the need for new wildfire management strategies, especially in areas of boreal and conifer biomes where yearly events of extreme fires increased as much as 630%.
Satellite studies and shattered sinks
Forests around the world are known to hold some of the largest amounts of carbon on the planet, absorbing 15.6 billion metric tons of carbon a year [1]. With every wildfire or felled tree, a small amount of this carbon is released back into the air and over time this would have a part in increasing global temperatures. The overall consequences of extreme wildfires are enough cause for concern, coupled with the lack of knowledge regarding where, when and why fires begin. A study looked at 21 years of satellite data to find global trends of fire intensity, using NASA’s MODIS satellite sensors (heat sensors) to identify sources of intense heat to determine ‘Fire radiative power’. Fire Radiative power (FRP) is the measure of energy emitted by a fire, representing the intensity of wildfires and the size of smoke emissions. The data collected was used to create models that predict what trends future fire events will follow, revealing a harrowing future of increasing fire activity.
Over the past seven years, the planet has endured six of the most extreme wildfire events recorded in history. Regions dominated by boreal and temperate conifer forests, specifically those in the USA and Russia, are witnessing the sharpest rise in extreme fires. The combined data has shown that wildfire intensity has almost doubled since 2003, resulting in more destructive events as our climates become more unbalanced. One example of this would be the closing gap between daytime and nighttime temperatures. As our nights are warming the natural barrier against fires during the night is weakening, resulting in a significant increase in nighttime wildfires. This leaves carbon-rich biomes in an increasingly vulnerable position with no natural protection and a greater loss of carbon stores. Our forests are carbon sinks and with each crack in their foundations we risk there being larger leaks than we can manage.
The root cause
During a fire, drier species of trees, shrubs and grasses are more vulnerable than those that retain large amounts of water. This more combustible environment allows fires to spread quicker and grow larger. As of 2020, 98 million hectares of forest land had been impacted by wildfires, however this was over a few years and overall area effected has decreased in recent decades [2]. Fire reduction in regions of Africa is partially responsible for the global decline in total area burned, but this should not distract from the increasing severity of fire effects. Boreal forests are victims of skyrocketing damage, with extreme events increasing from 14.9 annually to 108.7 between 2003-2023. Climate change has made boreal forests more vulnerable, with areas suffering from less rainfall, dryer vegetation and an increase in lightning strikes [3]. Natural sources of wildfires can be deadly and prove more difficult to combat than human causes.
Despite the obvious problems that follow wildfire destruction, it can be a natural part of life for some species. The sequoias of North America are big fire advocates. When sequoia groves become victim to fire scars are left behind that help to identify the age of trees and the frequency of fires [4]. This scarring shows that during years of very little fire activity there was a reduction in new sequoia saplings. Intense heat from wildfires actually aids in the spread of sequoia seeds, opening up pods and allowing for new growth in the cleared ground below. The cultural practice of controlled burns by indigenous tribes aided the survival of sequoia groves for centuries and is being pushed as a solution to extreme wildfire events [5].
How to find another way
The study proposes that using new early detection technology and changing fire management protocols could aid with finding long-term solutions. New early detection technology and the methods used by fire responders to determine a strategy to combat fires has made the process a lot faster [6]. Over 95% of wildfires using these methods are stopped within the first stages, showing how successful current efforts are. Despite this there is a call to change fire prevention, allowing controlled burns and smaller fires to reduce fuel (felled trees and plant/animal waste that helps fires burn more intensely). This would help prevent the event of larger, more catastrophic fires whilst allowing for forest recovery. The general public can aid in efforts by adhering to local fire laws, planting non-invasive fire-resistant shrubs/grasses or volunteering with a local fire department.
The global wildfire crisis is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and climate. With proactive management, informed strategies, and global cooperation, it is possible to mitigate the devastating impacts of wildfires and protect our planet for future generations.
Article by Abi Hinchcliffe
Photos via Unsplash: Malachi Brooks, Matt Howard, Filippos Sdralias
References
Study paper: Cunningham CX, Williamson GJ, Bowman DMJS. Increasing frequency and intensity of the most extreme wildfires on Earth. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2024; 8: 1–6.
1. Harris NL, Gibbs DA, Baccini A, Birdsey RA, de Bruin S, Farina M et al. Global Maps of Twenty-First Century Forest Carbon Fluxes. Nature Climate Change 2021; 11: 234–240.
2. Kala CP. Environmental and socioeconomic impacts of forest fires: A call for multilateral cooperation and management interventions. Natural Hazards Research 2023; 3. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nhres.2023.04.003.
3. Janssen TAJ, Jones MW, Finney D, van der Werf GR, van Wees D, Xu W et al. Extratropical forests increasingly at risk due to lightning fires. Nature Geoscience 2023; 16: 1136–1144.
4. National Park Service. Giant Sequoias and Fire – Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service). www.nps.gov. 2023.https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/giant-sequoias-and-fire.htm.
5. Malsberger K. Banned for 100 years, cultural burns could save sequoias. Save the Redwoods League. 2024.https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/banned-for-100-years-cultural-burns-could-save-sequoias/.
6. Wollstein K, O’Connor C, Gear J, Hoagland R. Minimize the bad days: Wildland fire response and suppression success. Rangelands 2022; 44: 187–193.
