Forest fires are an age old occurrence that has both natural and unnatural causes. The results of forest fires are devastating in terms of the overall short-term ecology of the effected area, including the destruction of microbial life and organic matter in the top 4-8 inches of topsoil. Additionally, large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) release into the atmosphere in a short period of time, reversing the carbon sink benefits from the forest derived over many decades. It is not clear how much impact this carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere has on the overall planet, but in conjunction with fossil fuel burning, it is a contribution that is worth resolving.

 Under normal, natural conditions, atmospheric carbon is transferred to the forest through the process of photosynthesis. The forest, in turn, releases carbon dioxide back into the air as soil microorganisms decompose dead organic matter, and trees and mosses metabolize the products of photosynthesis¹. So there is a symbiotic relationship between the microorganisms and organic matter in the soil, and the plant life above the soil. A forest fire destroys these living organisms quickly and effectively, requiring years to recover.

 Once a fire destroys a forest, it may take 20 years until it experiences a net gain in carbon storage (absorption)^1,2. In a study partially funded by NASA, Marcy Litvak, a plant ecologist at the University of Texas at Austin and her colleagues, Scott Miller and Michael Goulden of the University of California, Irvine, and Steve Wofsy of Harvard University monitored carbon dioxide emissions over black spruce stands in Manitoba, Canada. These stands ranged in age from 11 to 130 years old. It was determined that trees between 20-50 years old had a net carbon absorption, and then gradually dropped off to zero by 130 years. Younger trees also had a net zero absorption until about 11 years old, at which time they began to absorb more carbon then they “exhale”¹. When a fire destroys the microorganisms and organic matter in the topsoil, it becomes hydrophobic (repels water) and thus dry, resulting in erosion, compaction, poor yield, etc.

 Based on these negative affects, one key to helping speed the restoration process of a forest is determining how to quickly rebuild the soil, reduce the secondary effects that result from the fire, and start the net gain carbon storage sooner.

 Floris^TM is a highly hydrophilic, biologically, geologically and chemically active material developed by OrganoCat that increases organic matter formation, increases the water holding capacity of soil, improves other soil’s properties and functions, stimulates native microorganisms and plant growth and development. It has been shown that adding Floris to the soil can increase organic matter content by an average of 1% in as quickly as 21 – 45 days. An increase in organic matter content of 1% is equal to 24 tons of soil organic matter. For example, Floris added to 2.47 acres of soil absorbs between 36.75 and 43.29 tons of carbon dioxide. On average, this is equivalent to 40 tons of CO₂. Additionally, Floris^TM stimulates native microbes and enzymes which promote the humification process, thus saving organic matter from mineralization/ decomposition. Increased organic matter leads to increased water holding capacity, increased nutrient holding and utilization by plants, reduced toxicity effects from salt, heavy metals and other toxins, and increased soil fertility.

 In summary, forest fires release carbon stored in the plants and destroy much of the topsoil. Without intervention, a normal forest takes 20 years until it returns to become a net gain carbon sink. Floris^TM is a material that can speed the recovery of the soil, begin the carbon holding process and decrease the overall recovery time of the forest, providing a simple, practical and responsible solution to a regularly occurring problem. For more information, please visit our website, www.organocat.com. You may submit an inquiry at info@organocat.com.

1. “Fire Frequency Determines Forest Carbon Storage.” NASA. Web. 21 Mar. 2003.
2. MacMillan, Sadie, “Fires’ carbon contribution.” GeoTimes. Web. 12 Nov. 2007.

Tags: Recovering Forests From Fire

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