Is there anything left of it to burn? What is that doing to our ecosystem?
2007-08-24 04:03:45 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
The best answer is improper forest management.
We currently have a policy where we are to leave the forest natural and 'pristine', and protect the forest from logging.
This causes debris to accumulate knee thick in dead wood and other fuel in some areas.
Since we can't manage and clear and clean the forest, they burn.
Wouldn't a better policy be to save the forest by thinning them out, collecting the dead wood, and making a profit doing so rather than watching the forest burn?
2007-08-24 04:27:28 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Jello 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
when grasses are burned they grow back healthier the following year...here they do controlled burns (by firemen) so as to get rid of the brush because that's what keeps burning during a hot and windy season and burns so many acres. So sure, there's lots left to burn. I can't answer the question of what it's doing to our ecosystem, I mean, because fires have been going on since earth was created so it's not always been considered "our" fault. I often wonder if we had more trees if that would take care of the smog and other pollutants in the air. When the population is high then there is more home construction and trees are removed. I'd like to see more trees planted.
2007-08-24 11:33:11 · answer #2 · answered by sophieb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are ill informed. While a lot of the western states have been burning from wildfires there are 100's of thousands of acres of land that hasn't burned. Much of the wildfires are caused by the huge amount of fuels on the ground from either heavy rains in the past and a lack of rain this season. In addition, the premise is that every fire must be put out. However fire is also a natural element of any healthy forest. Fire burns up ground fuels greatly reducing ladder fuels. Fires that burn often are much less severe and contribute to the viability of a forest. Suppression of all fires has just increased ladder fuels and thus contributed to the catastrophic fires of the past decades. Now there are really no easy answers. Well one, a lot of CA is untouched from fire.
2007-08-24 11:19:23 · answer #3 · answered by kenny J 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before men there were forest fire triggered by lightning. Forest fire is part of the ecosystem to renew itself. Dead trees decay overtime by fungus but it takes a long time. Forest fire also work to release and return the elements back to Earth so everything get start again.
As human population grows, we move ourselves into the places where there are trees around. So, control forest fire is important for safety concern.
We have to be very careful to allow enterprise to making profit from going into the forest. Wood is not just wood. Trees and all the nutrients within are part of the eco-system. When it's removed from the forest. The eco-system is weaker and weaker.
2007-08-24 12:09:55 · answer #4 · answered by White Polar Bear 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fire is natural to the ecosystem, it burns out the underbrush providing clear space for the seeds to sprout and for the sun to get to the smaller plants
2007-08-24 11:15:45 · answer #5 · answered by startrektosnewenterpriselovethem 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, most of the Pacific Northwest is burning too. Someone asked me how long the country was going to wait to do something about the problem. I said, "They plan to wait until they come out some morning and find their lawn is on fire". Unfortunately, it's too late then.
2007-08-24 11:15:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can have alot of small natural fires or totally mismanage the whole deal and have a few big fires. Too much prevention makes for alot of kindling down the road.
2007-08-24 12:41:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋