Global assessment and mapping of ecological vulnerability to wildfires

Abstract

Abstract. Fire is a natural phenomenon that has played a critical role in transforming the environment and maintaining biodiversity at a global scale. However, the plants in some habitats have not developed strategies for recovery from fire or have not adapted to the changes taking place in their fire regimes. Maps showing ecological vulnerability to fires could contribute to environmental management policies in the face of global change scenarios. The main objective of this study is to assess and map ecological vulnerability to fires on a global scale. To this end, we created ecological value and post-fire regeneration delay indices on the basis of existing global databases. Two ecological value indices were identified: biological distinction and conservation status. For the post-fire regeneration delay index, various factors were taken into account, including the type of fire regime, the increase in the frequency and intensity of forest fires, and the potential soil erosion they can cause. These indices were combined by means of a qualitative cross-tabulation to create a new index evaluating ecological vulnerability to fire. The results showed that global ecological value could be reduced by as much as 50 % due to fire perturbation of poorly adapted ecosystems. The terrestrial biomes most affected are the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest, tundra, mangroves, tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests.

High resolution data reveal a surge of biomass loss from temperate and Atlantic pine forests, seizing the 2022 fire season distinctiveness in France

“…In recent decades, studies that qualify disturbance factors like fire has increasingly accounted for the ecological impact. Rather than solely focusing on the extent of the disturbance, a more scientifically-based holistic vulnerability framework, which combines the concepts of ecological loss and resilience, is employed (Forzieri et al, 2021;Arrogante-Funes et al, 2022). The vulnerability of an ecosystem, in conjunction with its recovery rate, is highly dependent on the loss experienced by the system https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-529 Preprint.…”

Fire Vulnerability, Resilience, and Recovery Rates of Mediterranean Pine Forests Using a 33-Year Time Series of Satellite Imagery

“…Different authors are working on determining the factors affecting vulnerability to forest fires. The authors of [107] highlighted that alteration to fire regimes is the most significant factor contributing to fire susceptibility, and leading areas previously considered to be relatively safe are now classified as vulnerable to fire. Therefore, comparative assessments and protocols are necessary to better comprehend the factors that influence wildfire susceptibility [108].…”

Wildfire Scenarios for Assessing Risk of Cover Loss in a Megadiverse Zone within the Colombian Caribbean

“…A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that occurs in wildland areas, typically involving vegetation [1,5]. Wildfires can be ignited by natural causes (e.g., lightning strikes), and in Colombia, it is mostly caused by human activities (e.g., campfires, agricultural burning) [3,21]. These fires can spread quickly, driven by multiple factors (e.g., fuel availability, wind) and can cause significant damage to ecosystems and infrastructure [10,18].…”

“…Wildfires in tropical regions, housing Earth's intricate ecosystems and highest carbon storage [1], have profound destructive consequences. They alter the structure and composition of natural assemblages unadapted to fire effects [2,3]. The extensive scientific literature documents fire's substantial impact on ecological processes and dynamics [4].…”