fires.globalforestwatch.orgForest Fires & Climate Change | Effects of Deforestation on Wildfires | GFW

Forest Fires & Climate Change | Effects of Deforestation on Wildfires | GFW Topics Explore the relationship between forests and several key themes critical to sustainability and the health of our future ecosystems. biodiversity climate commodities water fires Fires Although wildfires are a natural occurrence within some forest ecosystems, fire seasons are becoming more extreme and widespread, even in tropical rainforests where fires are atypical and particularly damaging. Hotter, drier weather caused by climate change and poor land management create conditions favorable for more frequent, larger and higher-intensity wildfires. explore fire alerts on the map Related tools Scroll to discover Fires Natural state In higher-latitude forests, fires help maintain a healthy forest ecosystem by releasing important nutrients into the soil and aiding in seed dispersal. In tropical forests, local and indigenous communities have used controlled fires for centuries to clear land for agriculture. Related tools Fires Drivers of change Climate change and forest degradation and fragmentation have led to more fire-prone conditions globally. With hotter and drier conditions, fires - either ignited by humans or by lightning - are more likely to burn over larger areas and at hotter temperatures. Forests degraded by logging and disease, and fragmented by deforestation are also more susceptible to fire. Related tools Fires Compromised state Wildfires release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming, and in severe cases, irreparably damaging forests ecosystems. The resulting smoke and haze can travel miles, creating public health crises as people breathe in unhealthy levels of pollutants. Uncontrolled wildfires cause billions of dollars in economic damage each year as property and natural tourist attractions are destroyed, water supplies are polluted, and economies are crippled by evacuations. Related tools Fires Recovery state Prescribed burning, improved maintenance of infrastructure, awareness raising and education on fire prevention, and policy interventions such as fire bans can reduce the risk of forest fires. Protecting forests from deforestation and degradation also improve forest resilience to fire. Related tools Fires RELATED TOOLS Monitor fires in your area Save an area and subscribe to receive emails when new fire alerts are detected view on map Explore recent trends in fire alerts See if current trends in fire alerts are normal, above or below average View cumulative fire alerts Compare cumulative fire alerts this year to past years. View fire alerts on the map View fire alerts - updated daily - on the map anywhere in the world. view on map The latest research and insights on fires from GFW Learn about the complex relationship between forests and fires on the GFW blog. read the blog Navigate to and report on fire alerts in the field Use the Forest Watcher mobile app to navigate to and report on fire alerts offline in the field. go to app What other fires data and analysis would you like to see on GFW? Tell us! feedback Map Dashboards Topics Blog About Help CONTACT US Subscribe to the GFW newsletter Partners Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Global Forest Watch System Status Topics Explore the relationship between forests and several key themes critical to sustainability and the health of our future ecosystems. biodiversity climate commodities water fires Fires Although wildfires are a natural occurrence within some forest ecosystems, fire seasons are becoming more extreme and widespread, even in tropical rainforests where fires are atypical and particularly damaging. Hotter, drier weather caused by climate change and poor land management create conditions favorable for more frequent, larger and higher-intensity wildfires. explore fire alerts on the map Scroll to discover Fires Natural state In higher-latitude forests, fires help maintain a healthy forest ecosystem by releasing important nutrients into the soil and aiding in seed dispersal. In tropical forests, local and indigenous communities have used controlled fires for centuries to clear land for agriculture. Fires Drivers of change Climate change and forest degradation and fragmentation have led to more fire-prone conditions globally. With hotter and drier conditions, fires - either ignited by humans or by lightning - are more likely to burn over larger areas and at hotter temperatures. Forests degraded by logging and disease, and fragmented by deforestation are also more susceptible to fire. Fires Compromised state Wildfires release carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming, and in severe cases, irreparably damaging forests ecosystems. The resulting smoke and haze can travel miles, creating public health crises as people breathe in unhealthy levels of pollutants. Uncontrolled wildfires cause billions of dollars in economic damage each year as property and natural tourist attractions are destroyed, water supplies are polluted, and economies are crippled by evacuations. Fires Recovery state Prescribed burning, improved maintenance of infrastructure, awareness raising and education on fire prevention, and policy interventions such as fire bans can reduce the risk of forest fires. Protecting forests from deforestation and degradation also improve forest resilience to fire. Fires RELATED TOOLS Monitor fires in your area Save an area and subscribe to receive emails when new fire alerts are detected view on map Explore recent trends in fire alerts See if current trends in fire alerts are normal, above or below average View cumulative fire alerts Compare cumulative fire alerts this year to past years. View fire alerts on the map View fire alerts - updated daily - on the map anywhere in the world. view on map The latest research and insights on fires from GFW Learn about the complex relationship between forests and fires on the GFW blog. read the blog Navigate to and report on fire alerts in the field Use the Forest Watcher mobile app to navigate to and report on fire alerts offline in the field. go to app What other fires data and analysis would you like to see on GFW? Tell us! feedback Map Dashboards Topics Blog About Help CONTACT US Subscribe to the GFW newsletter Partners Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Global Forest Watch System...