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Fire science for rainforests

Nature volume 421, pages 913–919 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Forest fires are growing in size and frequency across the tropics. Continually eroding fragmented forest edges, they are unintended ecological disturbances that transcend deforestation to degrade vast regions of standing forest, diminishing ecosystem services and the economic potential of these natural resources. Affecting the health of millions, net forest fire emissions may have released carbon equivalent to 41% of worldwide fossil fuel use in 1997–98. Episodically more severe during El Niño events, pan-tropical forest fires will increase as more damaged, less fire-resistant, forests cover the landscape. Here I discuss the current state of tropical fire science and make recommendations for advancement.

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Figure 1: Diagram of interrelationships between tropical land-cover changes and forest fires.
Figure 2: Spatial distribution of fire regimes62.
Figure 3: Positive and negative feedbacks controlling fire processes in tropical forests.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful for support from NASA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 1405 S. Harrison Road, Room 101, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823-5243, USA

    Mark A. Cochrane

  2. Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia (IMAZON), Caixa Postal 1015, Belém-PA, CEP 66017-000, Brazil

    Mark A. Cochrane

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Correspondence to Mark A. Cochrane.

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Cochrane, M. Fire science for rainforests. Nature 421, 913–919 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01437

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