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Environmental Issue: Wildfires

Rashard Hibbert

Providence University College

231.23 Environmental Science

Bruce Friesen-Pankratz

April 9, 2023
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Wildfires have long been a common natural occurrence that are essential to keeping the

ecology in balance. The environment has suffered severe harm as a result of the recent

significant increase in wildfire frequency, intensity, and size. The multifaceted effects of

wildfires on the environment change based on a number of variables, including the severity and

frequency of the fires, the vegetation, the soil, and the topography. In this essay, the

consequences of wildfires on the ecosystem, wildlife, air quality, and soil health will all be

covered, as well as both immediate and long-term effects. The essay will also include facts about

wildfires with sources from articles to support this topic. Together with my perspective on the

subject, this essay will also examine two conflicting viewpoints on how wildfires affect the

environment.

28% of the world's boreal forests are found in Canada. These woodlands are growing

more and more susceptible to flames as a result of the hotter and drier weather brought on by

global warming. The National Forestry Database estimates that more than 8,000 fires burn an

average of more than 2.1 million hectares per year in Canada. Forest fires lead to a decrease in

the variety of plants, damage to trees that are normally resistant to fire, the displacement of

animals, and a faster melting of the boreal permafrost, which is linked to the production of

methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Wildfires have severe effects on people and the economy in

addition to the effects they have on animal and plant species. The Northwest Territories, which

span a region of about 442 square miles (580 square kilometers) in northern Canada, saw more

than 150 different fires in the summer of 2014.

There are many short-term impacts of wildfires. Wildfires have a number of direct

negative effects on the ecosystem, including the sudden extinction of wildlife and flora. When a

wildfire breaks out, it obliterates the local flora, which can cause soil erosion and deterioration.

In rare situations, this can make the soil unusable for farming and cause the loss of soil nutrients.

Moreover, because they discharge a lot of smoke, ash, and other pollutants into the air, wildfires

can also have a significant influence on air quality. Both humans and animals may experience

respiratory troubles as a result of these contaminants. Following a wildfire, there is an increase in

soil and water losses, which decline when the vegetation begins to recover more quickly. The

intensity of organic matter combustion is lower in regulated fires. As a result, the disturbance is

less than that caused by wildfires.

The wildlife population in the affected areas can be significantly impacted by wildfires.

As a result of the fire, many animals are unable to flee, and others lose their homes and food

supplies. Several species are susceptible to famine and death as a result of the sudden loss of

foliage and food sources. Wildfires can also seriously harm many endangered species' natural

habitats, which may have long-term effects on their ability to survive. This shows the many

short-term effects and impacts of wildfires. With wildfires having a numerous amount of direct

impact with the ecosystem the damage doesn't end there. It affects farming life as much as it

affects human and animal life as well.

Wildfires have a complex and variable long-term effect on the environment that depends

on a number of variables. The change of the environment is one of the most significant long-term

repercussions of wildfires. The loss of vegetation and the introduction of invasive species can

disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, resulting in changes in the biodiversity and overall

ecosystem health. Wildfires may also cause soil erosion and degradation, which may have

long-term effects on the health of the soil and agricultural production. Between 1998 and 2017,

6.2 million people were impacted by wildfires and volcanic activity, and 2400 deaths from

suffocation, injuries, and burns were attributed to these events globally. Wildfire risk is rising as

a result of ecosystems becoming drier and hotter.

Health concerns like respiratory and cardiovascular disorders can result from the

resulting air pollution. The impact of wildfires on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is

another important aspect of health.Additionally, wildfires can have a negative impact on air

quality, which may have long-term effects on both human and animal health. Wildfire smoke and

other pollutants can lead to the creation of acid rain, which can seriously harm soil, water

resources, and flora. Furthermore, breathing difficulties, lung cancer, and other health problems

can result from the smoke and toxins, which can have long-term effects on both people and

animals' health. This demonstrates how wildfires' long-term effects on the environment are

complicated and unpredictable. The destruction of vegetation, the introduction of alien species

that upset ecological balance, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases brought on by air

pollution were some of the most long-lasting effects of wildfires.

There are two points of view on how wildfires affect the ecosystem. The first is that

wildfires are a natural occurrence that are essential to preserving the ecosystem's balance. This

point of view contends that wildfires promote ecosystem regeneration by removing old and dead

vegetation, making room for new growth, and boosting biodiversity. Moreover, flames assist in

fertilizing the soil and recycling nutrients, which can boost agricultural productivity.

The second point of view holds that wildfires are mostly caused by human activity and

have a considerable detrimental influence on the ecosystem. This point of view contends that

environmental harm has been greatly exacerbated by human activities such as deforestation,

urbanization, and climate change, which have dramatically increased the frequency and intensity

of wildfires. Moreover, wildfires can have detrimental long-term effects on the ecology and

public health due to the loss of biodiversity, deterioration of the soil, and air pollution they

create.

The second point of view holds that wildfires are primarily caused by human activity and

have a significant negative impact on the ecosystem, whereas the first point of view holds that

wildfires are a natural occurrence and are essential to maintaining the ecosystem's balance, the

cons start to outweigh the pros when it starts to negatively impact the environment. This

demonstrates that due to their detrimental effects on the environment, wildfires inflict more harm

than good.
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When it comes to my stance on the issue I believe that wildfires are a danger to our

ecosystem as well as to our human bodies. Even though I do understand the circumstances where

it can be good for the environment in certain ways, I feel that it does more bad than good. Based

on the sources that i've researched, each year, there are about 8,000 wildfires in Canada. Much of

Canada's densely forested terrain is vulnerable to flames, especially during dry spells and

droughts. Communities can be destroyed, infrastructure can be destroyed, and even lives can be

lost in forest fires. There can be no greater loss than losing your life to a wildfire, which proves

my point on how wildfires do more harm than good.

In conclusion, wildfires have a big effect on the environment, and they've been getting

worse and more often lately. In addition to the introduction of invasive species and the

destruction of flora, fauna, and soil nutrients, wildfires have both immediate and long-term

effects on the environment. The discharge of dangerous contaminants into waterways and the

atmosphere. While some contend that wildfires are a necessary component of the ecosystem and

have positive effects, it is important to realize that human activities and climate change are

mostly to blame for the increase in wildfire frequency and intensity. As a result, it is imperative

to take action to lessen the harmful effects of wildfires on the ecosystem. Some of these actions

include implementing better land management techniques, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and

funding initiatives for wildfire prevention and management.

Bibliography

Igini, M. (2023, February 17). 5 pressing environmental issues in Canada in 2023. Earth.Org.

Retrieved April 10, 2023, from https://earth.org/environmental-issues-in-canada/

Pereira, P. P. (2021, April 20). Short-term effect of wildfires and prescribed fires on ecosystem

services. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2468584421000386

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Wildfires. World Health Organization. Retrieved April 10,

2023, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/wildfires#tab=tab_1

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Wildfires. World Health Organization. Retrieved April 10,

2023, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/wildfires#tab=tab_1