This blog was originally written for Il Trafiletto and accessible here.

The fire that hit the town of Carapollo on Thursday and the one in Castiglione Messer Raimondo on Friday are just the latest episodes, in chronological order, of a worrying phenomenon of wildfires that, especially in summer, afflict our province and our region.

Regardless of whether these fires are deliberate or not, their increasing number and the expansion of the affected areas raise serious questions about their environmental impact. The response to such questions is complex and encompasses multiple aspects. Firstly, there is the impact on local wildlife, forced to abandon their habitat due to the fires, which sometimes also leads to the evacuation of human populations living nearby. Secondly, there is the local environmental impact related to the emission of pollutants due to the combustion of wood, such as fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide, which are extremely toxic to humans, especially in high concentrations. Lastly, but not least, the fundamental role played by trees in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) must be considered.

During the day, in the presence of sunlight, the leaves of trees use chlorophyll, a special pigment capable of capturing sunlight, to perform photosynthesis, a chemical reaction that converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The carbon dioxide absorbed for this reaction is then stored in the woody tissues of the tree, where it can remain for decades or even centuries.

It is therefore easy to understand the importance of trees and, in general, forests in the fight against the climate crisis caused by the increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. From this perspective, the occurrence of a fire has a dual negative effect on the environment: not only is the area capable of absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis reduced, but the CO₂ that had been stored in the trees throughout their lives is released back into the atmosphere.

The release of stored carbon dioxide in trees can occur not only through fires but also through deforestation, with negative environmental effects similar to those described. The reduction of forested areas due to fires contributes to accelerating an already rapid process of climate change. Therefore, it is essential to preserve existing forest areas, especially from deliberate acts of arson, and to ensure the restoration of those destroyed as quickly and efficiently as possible.