Australia Is On Fire
Our world is burning.
First, it was the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Described frequently as “the lungs of the earth”, this forest is home to at least 10% of the world’s biodiversity, produces 20% of the world’s oxygen, and helps regulate the temperature for the whole planet. In August 2019, the Amazon rainforests were set ablaze. Fires in the rainforest don’t usually start themselves, and are frequently set during the dry season by people who clear land for a variety of reasons, like cattle farming, copper mining, or space for crops. The practice of deforestation has expanded from small scale to an industrial production, leading to about 20% of the Brazilian Amazon being cleared since 1970. Many blame Brazil’s leader, President Jair Bolsonaro, for the flames. When campaigning for office as a far-right candidate, he called for setting aside less land in the Amazon for indigenous tribes and preservation. Once elected, his policies have been politically popular among industry and agricultural interests in Brazil, even as they’ve been condemned by Brazilian environmental groups and opposition lawmakers. When questioned about the Amazonia, President Bolsonaro claimed that the fires were due to severely dry and windy weather conditions, and illegal burning from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These accusations were later debunked.
A fire at nighttime, in the region of Vila Nova Samuel, Brazil. Via TIME.
According to the Washington Post: “Bolsonaro’s ambivalence toward environmental protections may not have directly lighted the first match, but it was a nod of approval to those who did.”
While there was no clear-cut culpit, it was too late. Damage was already done. It was estimated that 19,925 fires broke out in the Brazilian Amazon by September, which accounts for nearly 65 percent of the Amazon basin. Habitats were ravaged by fires, indigenous homes were charred into the earth, and many lives were lost.
Throughout the past decade, The Amazon rainforest has burned through the equivalent of 8 million football fields (or 24,000 square miles) due to deforestation. Similarly, the 2018 California wildfires deadliest and most destructive wildfire season ever recorded in the state, with as burned 142,000 acres (equivalent to 107,000 football fields).
Australia is now next to catch fire.
Battling Bushfires
Similar to the Amazon rainforest, Australia is a stomping ground for flourishing wildlife -- including 20,000 plant species and up to 300,000 animal species, many of which are unique to the continent. 91% of Australia is covered by native vegetation. According to the Australian government website, the identity of all Australians is shaped by a relationship with the natural environment.
A burning home in Lake Conjola in New South Wales that was taken in the middle of the day on New Year’s Eve. Via The New York Times.
But what will happen once that natural environment is burned away?
Since September 2019, Australia has been enduring a hellish fire season. Although wild bushfires are nothing new to the country (unlike the Amazon, Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth), this year has been a lot worse than normal. In fact, it has been considered the worst dry season on record. A couple of weeks ago, the fire spread through the most heavily populated areas along stretches of the southern and eastern coasts, including areas around Sydney and Adelaide. Much of the land that has been scorched are areas of bushland, forests and national parks, home to the country's beloved and unique wildlife.
As of January 8th, 32,400 square miles have burned since the blazes began. That’s 5,000 square miles more than the area of land that burned during the Amazon rainforest fires, and 80 times larger than the total area burned in the 2018 California wildfires. At the time of writing this, 2,000 (and counting) homes have been destroyed by the fires. At least 28 people have died (through defending themselves in the flames or smoke inhalation), including 3 volunteer firefighters.
Climate Change is a Factor
Weather and human activity are both blamed when discussing the causes of the Australia wildfires. Fires can be caused by lightning strikes, however some fires are deliberately started by humans. Australian police have already charged 24 people with intentionally starting bushfires in the state of New South Wales (NSW).
Smoke in major Australian cities has degraded overall air quality. Via NASA Earth Observatory.
Many believe there is a link between the severity of the fires and climate change. Australia has warmed about 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1910, with a sharp spike in temperatures in recent years. But that’s nothing to celebrate: rising temperatures leads to hotter weather, drier seasons and more fires. Without natural land and ecosystems to keep the environment thriving, we will ultimately not be able to sustain clean water or air, along with other issues.
One Billion is the total number of animal lives lost in the fires, estimated by Christopher Dickman, the University of Sydney ecologist who led the report. This includes the 800 million that lived in NSW. Many of Australia’s most well-known and beloved species, like koalas and kangaroos, died by being incinerated in flames or choking on smoke. Wombat numbers fell drastically, since these creatures can’t run fast or far, which left them at the mercy of the flames. Reptiles and smaller mammals can escape the blazes by burrowing underground or hiding in rocks. But when there is no food or shelter left, they become easier to catch by prey.
Koalas and kangaroos, despite the numbers, will not become extinct at this time because they are widespread across Australia. Rarer animal populations may be wiped out entirely.
A badly burned koala in recovery. Via BBC/Getty Images.
Animal hospitals, zoos and rescue groups on the ground are doing their best to respond to the fire crisis, with local residents and volunteers pitching in to care for injured animals.
Fires are something that animals in the wild have dealt with for a millennia. But when human activity (such as climate change or arson) is involved, survival for wildlife becomes even harder to obtain.
How You Can Help
Australia is under siege like it has never been before. With more devastating fires and deforestation on protected land, it will become even harder to fight fires in the future. We cannot tackle the climate crisis without first overcoming the issues that push climate change forward to begin with. Whether you choose to donate, or give back through other ways, you will make a difference.
Via Cosmopolitan.
To Donate:
For wildlife: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia | WIRES | Vets Beyond Borders | One Tree Planted
For victims/evacuees: Australia Red Cross | Salvation Army Australia | GoFundMe | Australia Food Bank
For firefighters: Country Fire Authority (CFA) | NSW Rural Fire Service | Country Fire Service (Southern Australia) | Rural Fire Brigades Association
Some money-free ways to help:
Give back your time, like volunteering in your community.
Donate nonperishable food items to those in need, Australia or otherwise.
Visit Change.org to sign various petitions that ask for the government to declare a climate emergency.
Write to your local government to demand action now.
Support politicians with a record of voting for the environment.
Ditch meat (which is a huge incentive to burn rainforests)
Keep the conversation going and share Australia fire posts on social media.
Written by: Laura Matusheski
