Wildfires are causing global forests to struggle with recovery, according to a new study. Fewer than one-third of forests affected by massive fires in the 21st century have been able to regrow within seven years.
Published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the study highlights how large-scale wildfires are making it harder for forests around the world to bounce back. Scientists from the Chinese mainland and international institutions analyzed over 3,200 major wildfire events to understand this alarming trend.
“Our natural recovery mechanisms can’t keep up with the intensifying climate pressures,” said Chen Ziyue from Beijing Normal University, one of the lead researchers. “We need systematic international efforts to support post-fire recovery.”
Since 2010, the severity of big wildfires has jumped by nearly 43% in dry regions and over 54% in northern forests. Places like western North America, northern-central Siberia, and southeastern Australia have been hit the hardest.
What’s worse, the rate at which forests recover after fires has dropped sharply. More areas are showing stalled recovery, with essential parts like tree canopies and overall productivity struggling to return.
The study warns that if this trend continues, we could see massive losses in biodiversity and critical natural resources. This would also disrupt the global carbon cycle, as forests play a key role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
David Bowman, an expert from the University of Tasmania in Australia, described the research as “an influential paper about a deeply serious topic.”
With climate extremes like heatwaves and droughts becoming more common, forests are facing unprecedented challenges. The researchers emphasize the need for scientifically planned reforestation and ecological restoration projects to help forests recover.
