Major New Report Highlights Controlled Burning as Vital Tool in the Fight Against Wildfire
- Rob Beeson
- 34 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The growing threat of extreme wildfires is a major global concern, and the comprehensive 112-page State of Wildfires 2024–2025 report provides a stark assessment of the problem.
The report finds that during the last fire season, global fire-related carbon emissions were 9% above average, with two catastrophic fires causing an estimated USD $140 billion in damages in Southern California alone. The report provides key scientific evidence on the shifting nature of fire activity and its causes.
This article explores a crucial finding from the report: not all fire is destructive. It shows how well-managed, controlled burning is an essential tool for protecting our landscapes and communities from the devastation of uncontrolled wildfires. By understanding the science, we can adopt a more effective, evidence-based approach to land management and conservation.
Fire Has Always Been Part of the Landscape
The "State of Wildfires 2024-2025" report begins with a fundamental and often overlooked truth: "Not all landscape fires are “bad fires”." The researchers identify fire as a "defining feature of our biosphere," a natural process that has existed since plants first colonized the land. This long history has shaped countless environments around the world.
Many ecosystems are fire-adapted, with plants and animals that have evolved to benefit from or even depend on periodic fire. Fire can trigger seed regeneration, clear out undergrowth to allow new plants to flourish, and create diverse habitats for wildlife. The report notes that these natural cycles are vital for landscape health.
Furthermore, fire has played a pivotal role in human history. For millennia, people have used what the report calls "cultural burning to shape landscapes and resources." This long-standing relationship highlights that fire, when managed with knowledge and care, is not just a destructive force but a fundamental part of our planet's ecology and our own history.
The Stewardship of Cultural and Traditional Burning
The report highlights the continued use of "small-scale intergenerational fire" by Indigenous and Traditional communities globally. These practices represent a deep, historical understanding of how to use fire as a constructive force on the land. It is a form of stewardship passed down through generations.
Researchers warn against labelling all fire as inherently "bad." Doing so dismisses what the report calls "culturally embedded stewardship" and risks stigmatising valuable traditional practices and cultural values. This perspective fails to recognise the essential role that managed fire plays in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
These low-intensity cultural burns are crucial to "maintain habitat mosaics and keep hazardous fuels in check." By carefully removing the build-up of dead vegetation, these practices prevent the conditions that lead to explosive, uncontrollable wildfires. The report’s findings suggest that prohibiting traditional burning can increase future wildfire risk.
How Prescribed Burning Reduces Wildfire Risk
Building on the principles of traditional knowledge, the report describes the modern practice of "low-intensity prescribed burning." This technique is a carefully planned and controlled application of fire to a specific area of land under selected weather conditions. Its goal is to achieve clear land management objectives.
The primary purpose, as identified by the researchers, is "hazardous fuel reduction" and the "rejuvenation of vegetation." Prescribed burns safely consume accumulated leaves, twigs, and other dead plant material that act as fuel for wildfires. This process also stimulates the growth of fire-adapted plants.
The connection is direct and logical: by reducing the amount of available fuel, land managers can significantly lower the intensity and severity of future uncontrolled wildfires. This proactive approach makes landscapes more resilient and easier to defend when a wildfire does occur. The report acknowledges that this modern practice is often inspired by traditional cultural burning methods.
Why Active Land Management is Vital for Prevention
The "State of Wildfires 2024-2025" report recognizes that land managers worldwide are actively implementing approaches like fuel reduction to mitigate wildfire risk. This work is essential for adapting to a changing climate. It represents a shift from simply fighting fires to proactively managing the land to prevent them.
There is a rising interest in what the report calls "integrated fire management," which signifies a more holistic approach to living with fire. This strategy combines prevention, suppression, and the beneficial use of fire to create safer, healthier landscapes. It acknowledges that fire cannot be entirely eliminated from the environment.
Active land management, including prescribed burning, is therefore a necessary and responsible act of stewardship to build resilience against the growing threat of catastrophic wildfire. The report also discusses how, in some fire-adapted ecosystems like the frequent-fire dry forests found elsewhere in the western United States, a policy of "over-suppression" has ironically driven more extreme fires. This reinforces that a complete lack of fire can be as dangerous as too much uncontrolled fire.
A Call for Responsible Fire Management
The central message of the "State of Wildfires 2024-2025" report is clear: fire is a natural and historical part of many landscapes, and we must learn to manage it, not just fight it. In this light, modern "integrated fire management" is not a new invention, but rather a science-led return to the ancient wisdom of stewardship that has long recognized fire’s essential role in the landscape.
Moving forward, effective policy must integrate the rigorous evidence from modern science with the deep, practical wisdom of traditional stewardship to build more resilient landscapes for future generations.