Global warming is a complex phenomenon that presents a serious threat to the future of the planet. That said, it is important to examine its many different causes in order to understand and address it. One of these causes, forest fires, may not be as widely understood as human-induced emissions but is still a major contributor. This op-ed aims to explain how forest fires are contributing to global warming and explore the potential solutions to mitigate this impact.
Forest fires, whether caused by human activity or natural occurrences, release a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and methane. Methane is a particularly potent greenhouse gas and the burning of organic matter can release up to 10 times more of it than the burning of fossil fuels. The methane released by these fires traps the infrared radiation emitted by the earth, in effect acting as a blanket that can absorb or deflect the energy and in turn, warm the atmosphere. Furthermore, burning trees and vegetation lose their ability to act as a carbon sink, meaning they are no longer able to absorb and store the carbon dioxide naturally emitted by living plants and animals.
Recent advances in forest fire management and control technologies have been undertaken in order to reduce their impact on global warming. Amongst these are strategies to reduce fire intensity, such as using mechanical suppression, prescribed burning and backfires, and increasing public awareness on the importance of wildfire risk reduction. Furthermore, the use of systematic controlled burning is being studied as an alternative to managing forest fires, as this may have the potential to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, acting as a local-level carbon offset.
It is not only forest fires themselves that pose a challenge when it comes to global warming. As stated by Dr. Christopher Field from Stanford University, “The long-term result of [forest] fires—more intense, more frequent and deadlier wildfires, scarred and altered water resources, the extinction of species, or the degradation of ecosystems—can put us right back to where we were before the fire”. This means that the environmental consequences of extensive forest fires can be quite severe and act as a barrier to achieving goals of combatting global warming. Thus, it is of utmost importance that we adopt a multi-disciplinary approach that consolidates efforts between environmental experts, research institutions and local stakeholders in order to adequately prepare for and manage forest fires.
In summary, although forest fires can provide a somewhat unorthodox solution to global warming, with the proper research and policy efforts, it’s possible to reduce their direct and indirect effects. We must not forget that prevention is always more effective than remediation. It is thus crucial to establish and maintain strategies to reduce the ignition and spread of forest fires, and to ensure that local stakeholders and communities are aware of the symptoms of a forest fire and the potential repercussions of their inaction. Now is the time for us all to come together in order to halt the devastating effects of climate change.
