24: Wildfires: Causes, biodiversity loss and climate change

This week we're exploring the topic of wildfires. As immense wildfires currently blaze across huge areas of Australia and both California and Siberia have also experienced vast fires in recent years, we look at the causes of wildfires, the impact they can have on biodiversity and the natural environment, how fires fit into nature's usual cycles and the role that climate change is having on the increased frequency and severity of wildfires.

We also speak to Professor Stefan Doerr from the University of Swansea about understanding how climatic conditions have influenced the severity of the fires, and the best ways to handle living in fire-prone natural environments.

Some of the things we've spoken about:

8 things everyone should know about Australia’s wildfire disaster: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/1/8/21055228/australia-fires-map-animals-koalas-wildlife-smoke-donate

Australia Wildfires: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/01/world/australia/fires.html

How wildfires work: https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/wildfire3.htm

Biodiversity at risk in Australia: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/04/ecologists-warn-silent-death-australia-bushfires-endangered-species-extinction

Australia Wildfires: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/01/australia/australia-fires-explainer-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

California wildfires: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/us/fires-california.html

California wildfire causes: https://www.wired.com/story/californias-wildfires-are-the-doom-of-our-own-making/

Prof Stefan Doerr:https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/science/geography/s.doerr/

Donate to the Australian Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate

Registered Bushfire Charities: https://www.pmc.gov.au/registered-bushfire-charities

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