Climate Change Increasing Intensity, Extent of Wildfire

By Crystal Davis on Friday, June 1, 2007.
In the year 2000, an estimated 350 million hectares of forests and woodlands were destroyed by fire. Although historical data is lacking, recent evidence suggests that climate change is resulting in forest fires of increased intensity and extent. However, people remain the biggest cause of uncontrolled vegetation fires, and future prevention and preparedness strategies will undoubtedly need to prioritize awareness campaigns and education. These issues were among those discussed by over 1,500 fire experts who gathered at the 4th International Wildland Fire Conference this month in Seville, Spain.

Fire plays a multifaceted role in maintaining landscapes and livelihoods around the world. Just as many ecosystems have evolved under natural fire regimes and require fire to maintain biological productivity, humans also utilize fire for various land management and agricultural goals. However, uncontrolled wildfires--exacerbated by climate change and insufficient preparedness and response--result in enormous social and economic damage. The costs of this damage, which are often underappreciated by society and particularly people in urban areas, include:

Short- and long-term health impacts
Release of carbon dioxide contributing to global warming
Lost recreational and biodiversity value
Cost of evacuation, response and material losses
Secondary effects such as soil erosion, landslides and flooding

Humans are the primary cause of wildfires in almost all regions of the world, although determining the source of a fire is sometimes difficult. Human activities that utilize fire typically involve land management activities such as shifting cultivation, maintenance of grasslands for livestock, extraction of non-wood forest products, industrial development, resettlement, and hunting. However, negligence and arson are also important factors. The Fire Management Global Assessment 2006 published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations offers the following recommendations to improve fire prevention and suppression worldwide:

Improving availability of reliable assessments of the extent and impact of wildfires
Raising awareness of the economic, social and environmental impacts of fires
Recognizing the role of community-based fire management
Strengthening institutions and defining roles for fire national management
Enhancing international and regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing