Effective Climate Actions Needed Against Major Fire Threats to Global Forests, Research Shows

A recent study emphasized the need for immediate and effective actions in mitigating major fire threats to global forests.

The forest fire could affect animals, biodiversity, humans, and their livelihoods.

Forests are crucial in the environment and on Earth. It has been a home for many known and unknown animals, serving as an important habitat. Animals thrive and find sources of food in the global forests.

(Photo : by EVARISTO SA/AFP via Getty Images)
Mamiraua Reserve, Brazil's largest protected area, in Amazonas State, on April 25, 2019.

Trees are important in mitigating climate change and global warming effects. It is like a carbon sink absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

In addition, forests protect from the harmful impact of climate change and natural disasters.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), forests have about 31% land area on Earth, helping humans and animals survive.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) explained that deforestation had been the main concern in tropical rainforests.

However, forests are also threatened. Unlike protected areas, global forests in non-protected areas suffer from illegal logging, deforestation, conversion to commercial lands, and other illegal practices.

As a result, it is significant to develop urgent and effective policies to protect global forests against threats. The impact of forest damage could affect biodiversity and animals.

Increasing risk of major fires

According to researchers, the study looked into the vapor pressure deficit and fire emergence, studying the climate and fire records available. It explained that risks of major fires could emerge.

The report showed that the researchers analyzed satellite fire activity records and data sets of global climate. The researchers observed the VPD from the data sets.

The study was published in Nature Communications. It is also available on the Phys.org website.

Meanwhile, the researchers explained that air drying could occur when there is a difference between air moisture and the extent to which air could hold moisture as it becomes saturated.

If there could be a great difference, it could lead to risks of major fires, which could fuel from air drying.

With the data available, the researchers managed to measure and observe the strong link between fire activities and VPD in different global forests.

Also Read: Protected Areas Provide Important Habitat for Biodiversity and Thermal Buffer Against Climate Change

The study's research lead, Dr. Hamish Clarke, explained that the Amazon rainforest, northern hemisphere temperate, boreal forests, and other tropical forests globally show the biggest concerns. Dr. Clarke is also from the University of Melbourne.

Climate actions

The importance of climate action in addressing the potential threat to global forests is crucial, as the researchers suggested.

The researchers explained that the emergence of forest fire activity could impact forests' carbon storage, health, and biodiversity.

The study noted the importance of having fire predictions and developing mitigation plans to prevent major fires in the global forests.

The protection of forests is important, especially because it serves as a thermal buffer against climate change.

While forests suffer from deforestation, conservation and cooperation with countries and environmental groups will play a vital role in ensuring that forests are not threatened.