International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 106-108 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 106 Scientific Commentary Open Access Increasing Fire Activity in African Tropical Forests: The Dual Impact of Climate Change and Deforestation Josselynn XZ Feng Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572024, Hainan, China Corresponding author: josselynn.editor@gmail.com International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2024, Vol.14, No.3 doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2024.14.0012 Received: 19 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 21 May, 2024 Published: 27 May, 2024 Copyright © 2025 Feng, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Feng X.Z., 2024, Increasing fire activity in african tropical forests: the dual impact of climate change and deforestation, International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 14(3): 94-96 (doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2024.14.0012) Abstract The paper "Increasing Fire Activity in African Tropical Forests Is Associated With Deforestation and Climate Change" was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on May 02, 2024, by authors M. C. Wimberlyx et al., from the Department of Geography and EnvironmentalSustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA, among other institutions. This study comprehensively analyzed the increase in fire activity in African tropical forests from 2003 to 2021, particularly in the Congo Basin. It demonstrates a close association between these trends and deforestation as well as climate change. Utilizing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire data, the research assessed the spatiotemporal distribution and trends of fires in African tropical forests and analyzed their relationship with deforestation and climate change dynamics. 1 Interpretation of Experimental Data Figure 1 illustrates the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of West and Central Africa, covering ten ecoregions as defined by the 2000 Global Forest Change dataset. These areas, including the Central Congolian Lowland Forests and Eastern Congolian Swamp Forests, highlight regions where forest cover exceeds 50%. These ecoregions are crucial for studying fire activity and understanding trends in forest cover and fire dynamics inAfrica. Figure 1 The study area Figure 2 illustrates fire activity in West and Central Africa from 2003 to 2021. Panel (a) shows the mean annual fire density, with higher concentrations at the edges of forest regions. Panel (b) reveals fire trends, indicating an increasing pattern in the Congo Basin. Panels (c) and (d) display fire anomalies for 2015 and 2016, respectively, with significant activities concentrated in the Congo Basin and nearby areas, suggesting that these regions have experienced an elevated fire risk associated with climatic anomalies. 2 Insight of Research Findings The study indicates significant increases in fire activity in specific areas, particularly where deforestation rates are high. Additionally, the increase in climatic variables, especially temperature and vapor pressure deficit, strongly correlates with the rise in fire activity. Notably, the 2015-2016 strong El Niño event coincided with unusually high fire activity across the region.
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