A GROWING PROBLEM IN SIBERIA
CLIMATE AND HUMANS CONTRIBUTE TO RISE IN WILDFIRES
BY LENA POPOVA
In the harsh conditions of the coldest region on the planet – the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), in north-east Siberia – we hold great respect for fire. We, the northern Indigenous Peoples, have survived for thousands of years in these unforgiving lands thanks to the warmth and light that fire provides during the long winters. Fire is life – it replaces the sun for us in the dark, cold months; it gives us warm food, and there is deep joy in gathering around the fire with family. Some of my warmest childhood memories are tied to the sound of burning wood in the stove.
Before 2015, fires occurred as a natural part of the ecosystem. Today, federal law prohibits controlled burning (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 10, 2015, №1213). This prohibition, along with a combination of increasing temperatures, dry years, stronger and more unusual winds, leftover grass from the previous year that serves as fuel, and reduced rainfall all create favorable conditions for large, unpredictable wildfires that can quickly spread across vast areas.
We used to carry out controlled burnings, which stimulate the growth of new, nutrientrich grasses; this not only helps restore the ecosystem but can also help control insects, pathogens, and bacteria in the grass. In the Arctic, grass does not have enough time in a single short summer to decompose and turn into soil. That is why controlled burnings are essential – not only to improve pastures and forage lands for our traditional activities, but also to reduce the risk of large wildfires. Old, dry grass acts like kerosene – it ignites very easily. Just imagine how much of this kind of land exists across the vast northern territories.
In addition, light coniferous forests prevail in the Republic; they are formed mainly by two species – pine and larch – of which larch occupies almost 90 per cent of the forest ecosystem of the Republic. Pine and larch forests catch fire more easily than dark coniferous forests.
All of this has led to most of the wildfires in Siberia over the past decade occurring in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the largest region in Russia by territory, yet one of the lowest in population density. Our region has experienced some of the largest and most dangerous fires. Smoke from these fires even reached the North Pole and spread across a large part of the Arctic. The combination of frequent forest fires and climate warming is creating critical conditions for the fragile Arctic ecosystem, the economy, and our Indigenous subsistence practices, such as reindeer and horse husbandry. Undoubtedly, wildfires significantly contribute also to the accelerated changes in the global climate.
Moreover, in 2020, so-called zombie fires, or holdover fires, were observed in eastern Yakutia; these fires burned deep in the peatland soil, even at temperatures as low as -50 C. The winter burning of such northern peatlands will have significant consequences. If the fires continue into the spring, they will spread over vast areas, destroy the environment and release carbon into the atmosphere.
Wildfires occur due to various reasons and factors, but the most common is the increasing number of dry thunderstorms. Human activity plays a significant role as well. Fires often start near power lines, roads and pipelines, during construction or logging operations. In many cases, the exact cause remains unknown, but the pattern is clear: as the temperatures increase and human activities expand, the risk of wildfires grows. Wildfires, along with human activities, negatively impact Indigenous practices. Mining and deforestation are growing in the region, putting even more pressure on the land and making it more difficult for Indigenous Peoples to continue their traditional ways of life.
Fire is life — it replaces the sun for us in the dark, cold months. But today, without the ability to carry out controlled burns, fire has become something to fear.
To reduce the risk of forest fires, it is important to take several key steps. First, a well-developed forestry network should be established across as much of the Republic’s territory as possible; this would help remove dry grass, dead trees, and other plant material from the forests, as these can easily catch fire. Second, controlled burning of dry grass must be allowed at safe times – at the very least, for Indigenous communities. These planned fires can help prevent larger and more dangerous wildfires in the future.
Working with the Earth – as our ancestors have done for millennia – rather than against it, we can live with fire without fearing it.
