The Hidden Harmony: From Ashes to Abundance – Ecological Significance of Forest Fires
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2025/v151i12/170895Keywords:
Fire ecology, Forest fire management, Biodiversity resilience, Controlled burning, Pyrodiversity.Abstract
The present review explores the ecological significance of forest fires, challenging the widespread perception of fire as solely destructive. It focuses on the ecological, evolutionary, and socio-cultural dimensions of fire for sustainable forest management. A literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed journal articles from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, emphasizing studies on wildfire impacts, fire-adapted plant traits, ecological benefits, interactions with climate and biodiversity, and contemporary fire management strategies. The review highlights that forest fires—particularly low-intensity and controlled burns—play critical roles in nutrient cycling, seed germination, pest control, soil enrichment, and habitat diversification. Fire-adapted species exhibit traits such as serotiny, thick bark, and resprouting ability, indicating the long-standing influence of fire on plant evolution. Traditional fire management practices, such as India's Podu Chasa and Aboriginal “cool burning,” exemplify sustainable fire use. Geospatial technologies are now essential tools for wildfire monitoring. Recognizing fire's dual nature is vital for adaptive, ecological, and culturally inclusive forest management policies.
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