In a hot dry world, it makes sense that forests are more flammable. Key policy discussions around forest thinning and prescribed burns miss the critical need to engage biodiversity. Working with nature as our partners could be the quickest and most effective way to put the breaks on runaway wildfires.
Mitigating Wildfires Through Biodiversity
Wildfires have become more frequent and devastating, affecting communities, economies, and ecosystems worldwide. While climate change is often highlighted as a primary driver, another critical but less discussed factor is biodiversity loss. Enhancing biodiversity can reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
Beaver Wetlands and Firebreaks
Beavers are natural engineers who create wetlands through their dam-building activities. These wetlands act as natural firebreaks, slowing or stopping the spread of wildfires. In areas where beaver populations have been restored, the creation of wetlands has significantly reduced the impact of wildfires.
Areas where beavers have been reintroduced have seen the creation of extensive wetland networks. These wetlands have proven effective in halting the spread of wildfires, providing a buffer zone, and protecting communities and ecosystems.
Timber industry practices often lead to the establishment of monoculture forests, which are more susceptible to fires. Diverse forests, with a variety of tree species, are more resilient. They create microclimates that retain moisture and are less likely to become tinderboxes during dry conditions.
European forestry practices that promote mixed-species forests have resulted in areas that are less prone to fires. These forests maintain higher humidity levels and are less likely to suffer from the rapid spread of fire compared to monoculture forests.
Grasslands left ungrazed can become overgrown, dry, and highly flammable. Introducing grazing animals, such as cattle, sheep, or even wild herbivores, helps maintain grassland health. These animals keep grasses short, promote deep-rooted growth, and enrich the soil, reducing the risk of wildfires.
Dig Deeper
Looking for a better understanding of the science behind fire prevention in forests?
A section in our Compendium Vol. 4 No. 2: Responding to Wildfire, or download the full PDF.
Fostering Socio-Ecological Resistance to Wildfire by Interconnecting Knowledge Systems at Cal Poly Humboldt, by Jeffrey M. Kane, Erin Kelly, Benjamin Graham, and David Greene (“forest desertification that resulted from past state and federal land management policies”). Home hardening discussed at p.13 of 25.
The Rabbit-Duck Illusion in Climate Messaging: An Example from Wildfire Policy, by Anastassia Makareiva.
Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths To Save Our Forests, by Chad Hanson, PhD.
Unseen Connections Between Life and Climate, by Hart Hagan.
How Plants Cool the Planet, short video by Jimi Sol.
How Trees Bring Water, short video by Andrew Millison.
How Plants Water Our Planet, academic article by Douglas Shell.
In the article “The Orchard at the End of Paradise” (Van der Leun, 2018), land owners describe the phenomenon of their apple orchard remaining unburned while the Camp Fire moved around it. June 2020 Literature Review for Paradise Nature-Based Fire Resilience Project (“Literature Review”) page 9 of 25, which also states, “an increase in bulk density and fuel moisture content results in an increase in the time to ignition”.
Insect Life Under the Leaves, by Heather Desourcie is an example of how leaf litter that may look like it’s flammable is actually supporting the biodiverse ecology that keeps the forest alive.
Will Pattiz on what is ultimately at stake, including this passage from his More Than Just Parks substack today: These forests are not a resource. They are a place. They are a place in the way that a cathedral is a place, in the way that the ground where your family is buried is a place. You do not walk into a grove of thousand-year-old Douglas fir and think about board feet. You think about time. You think about what it means that something this large and this patient has been standing here since before your civilization learned to write its laws down. You think about what kind of people we are if we let it fall.
Support Rewilding Projects
Rewilding initiatives that reintroduce keystone species, such as beavers, are crucial. Supporting these projects can help restore natural firebreaks and improve ecosystem resilience.
Advocate for Sustainable Forestry
Promoting forestry practices that encourage biodiversity rather than monoculture can reduce fire risk. Sustainable forestry includes planting a variety of tree species and maintaining natural forest structures.
Implement Holistic Grazing Practices
Encouraging the use of holistic grazing practices in grasslands can help maintain healthy ecosystems. This involves managing livestock in a way that mimics natural grazing patterns, improving soil health, and reducing fire hazards.
Conclusion
Increasing biodiversity is a powerful tool in the fight against wildfires. By restoring ecosystems, supporting diverse forests, and managing grasslands responsibly, we can create environments that are less prone to catastrophic fires. Enhancing biodiversity not only helps prevent wildfires but also contributes to overall ecosystem health and resilience.
Take Action: Protect Forests & Rethink Wildfire Policy
Across the U.S., forest policy decisions are being made right now that will shape wildfire risk for decades. Many proposals still rely on increased logging and “thinning” approaches that can undermine the natural resilience of forest ecosystems.
A recent public comment submitted to the Bureau of Land Management highlights a growing body of science: healthy, biodiverse forests are more resistant to wildfire because they retain moisture, cool the landscape, and maintain stable ecological relationships.
- Diverse forests maintain internal moisture and resist ignition
- Living ecosystems help circulate water and support rainfall
- Biodiversity cools local climates and reduces fire intensity
- Soil and understory life increase water retention and resilience
Policies that prioritize large-scale logging risk degrading these natural defenses. Instead, emerging science supports restoring ecosystem function, rehydrating landscapes, and protecting intact forests.
Learn More & Get Involved
- Read the full public comment
- Federal Register: Oregon Forest Management Plan Revision
- BLM Project Overview
Thoughtful public engagement plays a critical role in shaping forest policy. Staying informed—and speaking up—can help ensure that decisions reflect the best available science.
Fantastic and clear understanding of the issue and how to mitigate it! Well done!
Yay! Funally, solutions that address the causes of wildfires, not just bandaid solutions. Thank you!!