By: Nour Hany
Biodiversity is facing the threat of fire in many regions of the world. Twenty-seven researchers worldwide have collaborated under the leadership of the University of Melbourne, to conclude that over 4,400 species are at great risk due to wildfires.
The study shows that human activities are the reason behind the change in wildfire intensity, as lead author, Luke Kelly, Senior Lecturer at University of Melbourne, Australia, has explained, saying that: “Those species include 19% of birds, 16% of mammals, 17% of dragonflies, and 19% of legumes that are classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable”.
Dr. Kelly added that recent fires have burned ecosystems where wildfire has historically been rare or absent, from the tropical forests of Queensland, Southeast Asia, and South America, to the tundra of the Arctic Circle. Moreover, very large and severe fires have also been observed in areas with a long history of recurrent fire, and this is consistent with observations of longer fire seasons and predictions of increased wildfire activity in the forests and shrub lands of Australia, southern Europe, and the western United States."
As fires pose threats on different species, it is also important for the life of others, such as African herbivores like wildebeest, which needs space to open areas and space to migrate and graze. It is highly important to understand these complexities and the cause behind these changes in different places in order to help rescue both people and nature, as there is a record of 12.6 million hectares burned in Australia from August 2019 to March 2020.
In their study, researchers identified three main groups influencing fire activities and their subsequent impact on biodiversity: global climate change, land-use, and biotic invasions. Getting a better understanding of fires, helps us control its state. Dr. Kelly explained that: “It really is time for new, bolder conservation initiatives. Emerging actions include large-scale habitat restoration, reintroductions of mammals that reduce fuels, creation of low-flammability green spaces, and letting bushfires burn under the right conditions. The role of people is really important: Indigenous fire stewardship will enhance biodiversity and human well-being in many regions of the world”.
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