Veld Fires and the environment
These are fire blazes that get out of control, become wild, and destroy extensive tracts of forests, grasslands, animals, people and their properties in the process .Fire, as part of natural process has a positive role in the vegetation structure and composition, and helps recycle nutrients contained in old and dead trees. There is, however, concern that the frequency, extent and pattern of burning are increasing due to human activities. It is a fact that the damage from these fires has grown to outweigh the benefits of fire on the ecosystem. Frequent burning has implication on carbon stocks and emissions, wildlife habitat, human health and life as well as livelihoods. Fire has caused destruction of property and loss of life around the world. It disturbs the natural balance of the ecosystem.
Fire subjects the soil to high temperatures, causing loss of organic
matter and drying out of the topsoil. Many classes of organisms are burned and the soil becomes
barren. Fire ashes the above ground biomass and litter and may impair the reproductive potential
of plants by reducing the seed bank in the soil. Damage may also be caused to below ground
roots and tubers. Patterns of seed production, seed germination and seedling establishment of
most annual plants is lowered. The woody vegetation resists fire, but the grass and herbaceous
components can be eliminated. Veld carrying capacity resultantly becomes low because of
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changes in vegetation species composition and long-term reduction in herbage production.
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