Forest fires are actually beneficial

For years we have been seeing in the media the devastating effects of forest fires. But natural fires can actually benefit ecosystems.

The heat from forest fires is responsible for “releasing millions of seeds which are carried by the hot air to form new forests,” explains a TedEd video. The area left behind after a fire features carbon-rich soil and large open spaces, an environment that helps those seeds to grow quickly and in ample amounts. Without fires, certain tree species could die out and so would the animals which depend on them.

It’s hard for us to wrap our heads around the fact that these harmful-looking blazes actually help our forests, but the reality is that they actually do.