Oct 7, 2025
Neda Khanifar
With the increasing number of wildfires occurring around the world, it’s only natural that many of us find ourselves asking important questions about the causes of these events and how they can be prevented.
Each time news of massive fires reaches us from somewhere across the globe, several essential questions arise in our minds: Are all wildfires bad and should they all be stopped? What are the negative effects of wildfires? Should we plant more trees to prevent such events?
In this article from SENSENET, we aim to answer these questions. If this topic interests you, keep scrolling:
When Fire Helps the Forest: Understanding Beneficial Wildfires |
The truth is, no! Many of the fires that occur in forests are essential for the health of the trees and the forest ecosystem. Depending on the ecosystem in question, many forests throughout history have experienced numerous fires but have managed to survive and even emerge stronger from the ashes each time.
Small fires that occur naturally within forests play a vital role in preventing large-scale, catastrophic fires. These smaller fires burn up the available fuel in the forest and prevent dry vegetation from accumulating and creating massive, uncontrollable blazes.
If we take a look at Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada, we can see that they used to set controlled fires during specific times of the year to prevent larger, destructive ones. Of course, this practice dates back to ancient times. Starting from the 20th century, governments enacted environmental protection laws and banned all types of fires.
However, this policy, instead of protecting the forests, led to denser forests and significantly increased the risk of wildfires. The reality is that today, very few healthy forests remain in Canada, and many wildlife species have disappeared as a result.
On the other hand, climate change has intensified the crisis, and every year a large portion of the world’s forests are consumed by fire. The truth is that these forests are the lifelines of our planet, and unless we find better ways to manage wildfires, they will soon disappear altogether.
Which Burned Forests Need Restoration (and Which Don’t)? |
When wildfire season begins, thousands of hectares of national forests are set ablaze. But not all of these fires are bad. In fact, some of these forests don’t even need to be restored afterward, though many others certainly do.
It is generally estimated that about 80% of burned forests require reforestation and restoration.
Immediately after a wildfire is extinguished, the extent of damage to the forest must be assessed, and a plan for restoration should be developed. When we talk about damage, we mean evaluating all harm caused to plant and animal species and measuring its severity.
After that, it’s the government’s responsibility to take action by launching projects for replanting trees and engaging environmental supporters to help restore the affected forests.
The Hidden Dangers of Wildfires: From Soil Damage to Ecosystem Collapse |
Why Tree Planting Is the First Step Toward Forest recovery? |
When a large wildfire occurs in a forest, it can destroy all forms of plant and animal life. In addition, the loss of trees increases the risk of flooding. The damage wildfires cause to forest soil is also significant. In reality, many forests that burn lose their ability to support new tree growth for years, and the soil in those areas requires a long time to recover.
Although some animal species may find better living conditions after a fire, many others lose their homes, and the local ecosystem undergoes fundamental changes.
After a major wildfire, it can take decades for a forest to regain its natural life. That’s why, in many cases, human intervention is necessary to accelerate recovery through reforestation.
Why Tree Planting Is the First Step Toward Forest recovery?
The first benefit of tree planting is that it helps prevent flooding in burned areas. This, in turn, helps maintain the quality of water in nearby rivers and lakes.
Additionally, planting trees reduces the amount of carbon monoxide in burned regions and contributes to the economic and tourism recovery of towns near the forests.
Every tree planted is vital for the forest’s future life. Although reforestation doesn’t necessarily mean that all areas will return to their original state, trees are the core of a forest’s ecosystem. Therefore, planting trees can be considered the first essential step toward forest restoration.
Practical Steps to Help Forests Recover After Wildfires
There are several actions that can help preserve and restore forest life, including:
- Learning about tree planting and identifying the best species to plant.
- Adopting methods to prevent wildfires.
- Taking fire prevention precautions more seriously.
Final Word
Modern systems like SENSENET can play a significant role in preventing massive wildfires. These systems include highly sensitive smoke sensors, advanced cameras, and satellite imagery, which can detect even the smallest fires deep within the forest and send early warnings to firefighting authorities before the flames spread.
For more information about our products, please visit the menu section of our website.