As a company that takes inspiration from our environment, travels, and the world, we have known from day one that we need to make an effort to look after our beautiful planet as much as we make an effort to create unique and high-quality designs for customers. Sustainability has been our priority since the very beginning.

However, when we started eight years ago we certainly didn’t know as much as we do now. So besides planting three trees for each product sold and continuing to make all our shipments CO2-neutral, we're trying to keep learning about the things that impact our surroundings and how we can make a difference as individuals and as a company. 

We’d like to share some of these insights with our customers, who care about this planet as much as we do. In this article, we’re learning more about wildfires, how it affects the climate and which steps we can take to help fight them.

What are wildfires and what causes them

Recent years the news has been littered with reports of wildfires in countries like Australia, the United States and Brazil. Some wildfires are natural and even have benefits, like regulating the carbon cycle and shaping ecosystems. However, in the last 100 years or so, wildfires have been more severe and spreading faster due to human activities.

The chance of fires depends on a number of factors, like temperature, moisture in the soil and the presence of trees and shrubs. However, one thing that these factors have in common is that they are enhanced by climate change. Dryer wood and higher temperatures cause fires to start quicker and spread faster.

Our planet has been heating up faster and faster in the last 150 years, when humans started burning more fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide that had been trapped into the atmosphere. When excess heat stays in place for months or longer, the wildfire risk increases. Additionally, seasonal rain and snow patterns are also changing the ways wildfires are controlled.

A few facts that might help you understand the role of humans in the increase of wildfires:

• About 90% of wildfires are started by humans
• If there weren’t any humans, most wildfires would be the result oflightning strikes
• It takes an average of 3 years after a wildfire before reforestation efforts can begin
• On average, more than 100,000 wildfires clear 4-5 million acres in the United States alone

What we can do to help prevent wildfires

Most wildfires are caused by humans, and can be prevented by humans, too. Except for good fire management policies, people and companies can mostly reduce the chance of devastating wildfires by helping to reduce the effects of climate change.

As drought and heat continue to increase with rising greenhouse gas emissions, we expect more severe wildfires in coming years. By breaking this cycle, we can get back on track toward a more sustainable future by working together to slow down rising temperatures and reduce wildfires.

WoodWatch contributed to the recovery of the Australian Wildfires in 2019 by donating 1500 trees to One Tree Plantedin January 2020.