Dear Editor,
When you mess with native forests, they become more flammable. Commercial logging of moist native forests creates conditions that increase the severity and frequency of bushfires. Is it simply a coincidence that the province with the highest rates of deforestation is suffering the worst forest fires in our country?
There have been a number of studies done on the relationship between deforestation and forest fires. They all seem to conclude the same thing: deforestation is causing our forests to become more prone to wildfires. Logging can change forests in many ways that could influence wildfire frequency, extent and severity. These include changing: microclimates, stand structure and species composition, fuel characteristics, the prevalence of ignition points, and patterns of landscape cover. Commercial logging of moist native forests creates conditions that increase the severity and frequency of bushfires. From a study done in the Amazon (a much wetter climate), we learned that majority of the active fires and the most intense ones, were found within the first kilometre from the edges of deforested areas, close to those dry pockets. The study also concluded that fire density increased with habitat loss. Do a simple google image search of “B.C. fires bird’s eye view” and compare the results. Right away, you will notice how close these fires are to the edge of logged areas [dry pockets], where yearly logging has increased ground dryness.
What has the continuous logging of billions of trees over many years done to the vegetation, micro-climate, humidity, and ground of our forests? Think about it. I welcome all comments on weatherpeace.blogspot.ca
Joseph Cek
RICHMOND
