How trees actually reduce the risk of wildfire

It is a tree-planting organiation’s worst nightmare: wildfire. The effects of climate change – such as increasing drought and extremer temperatures – cause wildfires to occur more often and to become more intense. Is it any use to plant trees then? Yes, indeed! For although it sounds contradictory, trees are capable of reducing the risk of wildfire. How is that?

More forest = less drought

Forests themselves cannot prevent wildfire. But well-managed forests do reduce both the risk of wildfire and its seriousness. This is caused by the fact that – in various ways – trees contribute to a cooler, stabler and more stable climate:

• Constant temperature. In a forest, temperatures are stabler than in places without trees. Humidity is higher, too.

• Shade and cooling. Owing to their leaves, trees produce shade and cooling. The canopy protects the soil from the sun, so it does not dry out so quickly.

• Absorptive capacity. Fallen leaves,the forest floor and vegetation all retain water. Indispensable during (lengthy) dry periods!

• Better protection. Trees reduce the power of the wind, sun and rain. This gives less ardent differences in temperature. Air remains more humid, too.  

In short, planting trees is useful in combatting heat and drought, thus also reducing the risk of wildfire. Provided the right tree grows in the right place and is cared for in the correct way.

As a result of climate change, (extreme) drought, heat and, therefore, wildfire will increase.

The strength of a varied deciduous forest

Some species of trees are more fire sensitive than others, since one species retains more moisture than another. Deciduous trees, such as oak or beech, hold relatively much water by means of their leaves and roots. That is the reason they do not catch fire so easily as conifers, such as fir and spruce. Dead needles easily drop and heap up on the forest floor. A tiny spark is enough to light a fire that spreads very fast.

What works as well is planting forests with a mix of species of trees and shrubs. Such a mixed forests is far more drought resistant than one which consists of a single species of tree (monoculture). Does one species succumb to drought? In a mixed forest, there are plenty of other trees to preserve the forest.

Planting the right tree in the right place, therefore, is an important starting point in our line of work. Per project we consider carefully what species naturally occur in the area and which are future proof, for instance because they are drought resistant.

A forest with various species of deciduous trees is less flammable than a forest of conifers.

Forest management and fire prevention

Besides planting the right trees, we pay much attention to management, maintenance and protection of trees. Fire prevention is an important element here. We do this together with our partners, both at home and abroad, which are familiar with a project location and its risks.

The measures we take vary per project, but some examples are:

• Voorlichting en bewustwording. Bosbranden ontstaan vaak (onbewust) door menselijk gedrag. Bewustwording om het risico op (overslaande) bosbranden te beperken, is daarom een belangrijk onderdeel binnen onze projecten. We werken hieraan samen met onze internationale partners, overheidsinstanties en de lokale gemeenschappen in projectgebieden.

• Policies. Besides education and awareness, we also draw up policies to reduce risks. In our project areas in Spain, Ethiopia and Indonesia, we have drawn up safety protocols together with authorities. A zero buring policy also sometimes applies, for instance in periods of prolonged drought or with a high forest fire risk. In such cases, the use of fire for land preparation, for example, is prohibited.

• Maintenance. We make sure there is good maintenance in planting locations, to keep any fire from easily spreading. This involves pruning or removing flammable shrubs or other vegetation.

• Creating fire lanes. In strategic places in a new forest, we create fire lanes: strips without trees or growth. These ‘stop lines’ halt fire and prevent it from spreading in the forest.

• Patrol teams. In some project locations, patrol teams have been installed, which check the forest for (arising) fires and are equipped with such materials as to be able to extinguish a fire rapidly.

• Water management. In places such as Borneo, our project partner builds dams in order to retain water within the area as much as possible. Moist soil is necessary for the type of forest we plant here, but just as much to prevent wildfire.

Management in our planting locations is an important element in fire prevention, such as pruning or removing flammable shrubs or other vegetation.

The right tree in the right place, with the right care

It is impossible – unfortunately –  to prevent wildfire completely. Certainly, since it is easy for fires to spread into forests during long term drought or in strong winds. Thank goodness, a healthy forest can recover quickly and often new trees grow from even the blackest tree trunks.

In the meantime, it is our concern to reduce the risk of wildfire as much as possible by carefully considering the species of trees we plant and the way we must manage the forest. In this way we contribute to a greener and cooler world!