In February 2024, a prolonged heatwave persisted for days in Viña del Mar, a coastal city in Chile. The once-vibrant panorama, now parched and drained of its colour, lay withered and lifeless, as if ravaged by the scorching heat. As devastating wildfires ignited, they tore through densely populated and mountainous terrain. In a matter of days, the devastating fires ravaged 71,000 acres, claiming the dubious distinction as the deadliest conflagration in Chile’s recorded history.
Devastating wildfires like these ones have ravaged. Research suggests that local weather patterns, rather than global climate change, are primarily responsible for the recent intense wildfires in Chile. Specifically, each El Niño and La Niña event has been linked to increased fire activity, prompting scientists to investigate whether these phenomena had a statistically significant impact on the specific February fires. As devastating Chilean wildfires rage on, another alarming trend emerges: non-native grasses, shrubs, and trees, intentionally introduced by humans into new environments, are gaining an unsettling foothold.
For centuries in central Chile, logging companies have drastically altered pristine forests by replacing them with uniform, vast monocultures of introduced eucalyptus and Monterey pine species that thrive in the country’s Mediterranean climate. According to Dave McWethy, an assistant professor at Montana State University, the timbers in question possess a naturally occurring oily resin that renders them highly combustible; when combined with the hotter and drier conditions brought about by climate change, they can be explosive.
Our complex relationship with non-native species is We permit the introduction of nonnative species by deliberately relocating them to ecosystems where they have never previously coexisted. English ivy, a popular and versatile choice for stabilizing soil while serving as a visually appealing plant. By the mid-18th century, the Norway maple had been introduced to the East Coast of North America and quickly became a widely accepted standard for its ability to provide shade. Without proper regulation, nonnative species can displace native ecosystems and native species, disrupting delicate balances and potentially transmitting diseases. Once introduced intentionally or unintentionally, an invasive species can rapidly colonize new areas and evade detection at control points, making it challenging to contain or eradicate species like these?
According to an estimate from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), approximately 3,500 non-native plant and animal species globally are estimated to cost the world economy roughly $423 billion annually through geographic invasions.
As global warming reshapes ecosystems, scientists predict that local weather fluctuations will lead to “range-shifting” and “climate-tracking” phenomena, where species adaptively relocate to survive increasingly scorching temperatures. Some of these species may possess an inherent propensity for heightened flammability. “In areas unaccustomed to blazes, the introduction of invasive species threatens to escalate wildfires exponentially,” noted Dr. Anibal Pauchard, a professor at the University of Concepción and director of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity in Chile, co-author of the IPBES report.
Wildfires are ravaging locations across the US as a result of such developments. In 2023, a devastating wildfire, driven by the highly flammable combination of guinea grass, molasses grass, and buffel grass, claimed the lives of at least 101 people on the island of Maui.
According to data published in a recent journal, the presence of eight non-native grass species has led to a significant increase in wildfire frequency across the United States, with a staggering 27% to 230% rise in prevalence.
The proliferation of non-native species has severe implications for American ecosystems, as thousands may suffer from increased wildfire frequency and the hazardous air pollution it generates. As revealed by analysis, invasive grasses are significantly impacting traditional fireplace management practices in many regions across the United States. The species inhabits arid regions of the West, including the Great Basin and Southwest, but also thrives in more humid areas of the country, particularly near eastern temperate deciduous forests that span the eastern US, as well as pine savannah ecoregions stretching from central South Carolina to central Florida.
Invasive non-native grasses fueling increased wildfire risk across the United States?
While individual factors alone do not trigger the emergence of giant wildfires by themselves, nonnative grasses have unexpectedly played a crucial role in recent years – particularly in low-elevation areas where fires are rare, notes Seth Munson, an ecologist with the Southwest Organic Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The highly invasive cheatgrass, distinguished by its dense inflorescences, occupies a vast area of approximately 50-70 million acres across the United States, predominantly within the Great Basin region. Lands with at least 15% cheatgrass coverage are twice as susceptible to burning compared to areas with low cheatgrass abundance, according to research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Idaho, and University of Colorado.
Since 2010, a staggering eight of the region’s largest recorded wildfires have ravaged the Nice Basin. The Martin Hearth wildfire in Nevada ravaged a staggering 435,000 acres in 2018, devastating not only vast tracts of land but also crucial grazing pastures for cattle and habitats of the imperiled sage grouse, a species afforded federal protection.
The aggressive aquatic grass species thrives across Florida and the Gulf States, dominating native pine ecosystems with remarkable success. As wildfires rage unchecked, devastating consequences unfold. Recent wildfires in northwest Florida have left a trail of destruction, ravaging homes, forcing the evacuation of over 1,000 people and resulting in losses valued at thousands of dollars.
Texas has witnessed the largest-ever recorded wildfire in its history, which was recently brought under control, leaving a trail of devastation that included the destruction of hundreds of homes, claiming at least two human lives, and resulting in the loss of countless cattle. The devastating effects of wildfires in Louisiana in 2023 led to a tragic tally of two fatalities. As a highly invasive species, buffelgrass is rapidly gaining traction across Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, with its presence also being felt in the Mojave and other desert regions.
Invasive Tamarisk, notorious for its extreme flammability, has established itself in dense stands near waterways across the western United States. This highly problematic plant, one of many primary invasive species linked to intensifying Chile’s recent wildfires as well as blazes in other regions, will significantly escalate wildfire risk in California.
Preemptively controlling the establishment of invasive plant species is crucial in tackling the problem effectively. Despite efforts to prevent their spread, many invasive species have already established themselves in nearby areas. Early detection of invasive species through satellite imaging or ground-based observations is crucial for containing their spread, allowing for swift removal via various methods – including herbicides – to prevent significant ecological harm.
Across the country, federal agencies similar to those where Munson is employed, along with state governments, Native American tribes, non-profit organizations, and other entities, have been actively tracking the spread of invasive species across landscapes and working to mitigate their impact as they arise naturally. Efforts are being made to facilitate the rapid recovery of native vegetation following fires, thereby providing a competitive edge against invasive species vying for dominance over the newly available space.
By recognizing the existence of non-native vegetation in your area, you can pinpoint specific species that exacerbate wildfire risk. Instead of planting exotic species in your own home’s landscaping, consider incorporating native alternatives that will thrive with minimal maintenance.
