Good Fire- A Danger Of Just A Part Of Ecosystems Essay Example

The debate regarding the control of forest fires when they occur a controversy for many environmentalists. There are many proponents and opponents to extinguishing fires when they occur. In my opinion, natural and some artificial forest fires should not be put off because they have several advantages accruing to the environment. In spite of the bad reputation they have, majority of the forest fires add value to the environment such that they should take its course.
The Natural History Museum writes the first article that supports my stand regarding forest fires, and it is accessible at http://nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/volcanoes-earthquakes/forest-fire/index.html. Over the years, the environment has lost several species due to exploitation of natural resources by human beings. As such, some species of trees are endangered species besides the fact that they are rare. Initially, the United States had a strict policy to ensure the control of all forest fires ("Forest fires | Natural History Museum" 1). However, the country revised its policies upon noticing the reduction in the number of Sequoia trees within the forested land. These trees grow in the Western part of the United States, and they have a larger diameter of the trunk compared to the other species of trees. The reduction in their number attributed to the control of forest fires because the germination of the seeds of these trees depends on forest fires. The high temperature forces the seed coat to break letting the seed onto the ground to begin germination. In short, forest fires are important for the rejuvenation of the environment by enabling the growth of endangered species.
In addition to helping in the process of germination, forest fires help in clearing the undergrowth on the top soil ("Forest fires | Natural History Museum" 2). In many agricultural cases, it is important to clear the undergrowth to enable the rejuvenation of the soil and the survival of the micro and macro organisms within the soil. Clearing the undergrowth also helps to reduce overconsumption of then nutrients in the soil. In fact, the United States Forest authorities began creating artificial and controlled forest fires to enable the ecosystem benefit from the advantages to offers.
Another article supporting my opinion GEOL is the article on natural hazards. The article is accessible at http://geol105naturalhazards.voices.wooster.edu/are-there-benefits-of-forest-fires/. According to this article, forest fires are extremely advantageous because they help in the maintenance of the constant cycle of nature. The fires burn dead and decaying matter of the top soil, which often acts as fuel for other fires in the future. In this light, nature controls the extent of the adversities caused by a similar fire in the future. They eliminate the dense cover of leaves that covers the soil in the forests and prevents the penetration of sunlight into the top soil ("Many Benefits of Forest Fires — GEOL 105 Natural Hazards" 2). Once the dense foliage cover has been removed, plants buried within the top soil can access sunlight and begin to grow. For this reason, fire can help in the growth and spread of new species within the forests, which improves the diversity within the ecosystem.
Lastly, fires have intense heat that drain nutrients from plants and drain them into the soil. The process is important for the restoration of soil fertility ("Many Benefits of Forest Fires — GEOL 105 Natural Hazards" 3). They can help in the redistribution of soil minerals and make infertile areas acquire some valuable minerals making them viable and fertile for plant life. The redistribution of minerals is also important for the maintenance of the structure of the soil.

Works Cited

"Forest fires | Natural History Museum." N.p., Web. <http://nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/volcanoes-earthquakes/forest-fire/index.html>. 2012
"The Many Benefits of Forest Fires — GEOL 105 Natural Hazards." A Class Blog on Current Hazard-related Events — GEOL 105 Natural Hazards. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.