What do forest fires do to the environment?

Answer 1

Forest fires have numerous benefits for plants and animals because they increase diversity. In the process of forest succession, in which bare rock may be converted into mature forests over a long time, certain plants and animals are better adapted to exploiting certain circumstances along that continuum. In fact, there are certain plants and animals that require fires to survive and reproduce.

A mature forest requires plants to be shade tolerant, and food is actually quite scarce for most animals. An early successional forest benefits plants that require more sunlight to survive, and promotes the growth of plants that grow and spread quickly. As the forest regrows, its character changes and different plants and animals come and go to exploit the situation that suits them best. Without fires, if everything tended toward mature forest, many plants and animals would have a more difficult time surviving.

There is also a complicated web of nutrients that are recycled by way of a forest fire.

Answer 2

Yes a forest fire can be very dangerous but it can do a lot of good to the economy. If the trees are covering up the sunlight, that can be bad for plants and animals because they need sunlight to survive. So when a forest fire occurs it burns trees down and lets the flow of sunlight come into the forest again. Also when a fire burns trees down that can be a new home for insects or small creatures who live upon wood.

Answer In Australian "forests" (actually, large areas are technically "woodland") eucalypt species promote fire and can survive all but severe fires readily. Many species such as banksia actually require fire for seed germination. The seed pods crack open in the heat and the seeds land in soil fertilised with ash and with the ground and canopy temporarily cleared of other plants.

This has implications around the world as large eucalypt forests have been planted for various reasons (oil, hardwood) particularly in dry areas- eucalypts are very drought tolerant.

Answer 3

Mostly a bad thing for they get out of control incredibly fast and can be very hard to contain

Answer 4

No. Nearly all forest fires are out of control and are extremely hard to contain and can be hard to put out depending on the surrounding terrain