Forest recovery from fire can take decades, even centuries, forestry official says

Local firefire serviceTop News Forest recovery from fire can take decades, even centuries, forestry official says Pirkagia Klavdia 1152x1536 Relevant News Forest recovery from fire can take decades, even centuries, forestry official says 4 August 2026 Onirodiadromes returns to fill Lefkara with music 4 August 2026 Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime after video shows drone attacking market vendor 4 August 2026 newsroom 4 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber A burned forest ecosystem remains highly vulnerable for years after a wildfire is put out, Glafkos Kyriakou, First Forest Officer and Press Spokesman for the Forestry Department, said. Turning a burned forest area back into a mature forest takes decades, he said, and in some cases full recovery can take even centuries. A new period begins after a fire, he explained, during which the burned ecosystem is especially vulnerable, with effects that are environmental, social and economic. Recovery time depends on the vegetation, the type and intensity of the fire, weather conditions in the years that follow, and human intervention to help restore nature, he added. Environmental impact One of the first problems after a forest fire is soil erosion from rain and wind, particularly in areas with steep slopes, Kyriakou said. The risk of landslides also increases, he noted, while the loss of fertile topsoil delays the forest’s return to its previous state. The destruction of vegetation makes it harder for the soil to absorb rainwater and affects wildlife, he added, as animals and birds lose their food sources, shelters and breeding grounds and are forced to move to other areas. As a result, biodiversity and the ecosystem’s natural balance are affected, along with the forest’s natural regeneration, since many animals and birds help spread seeds. Kyriakou also pointed to the impact on air quality from the large amounts of carbon dioxide released during fires. At the same time, he said, the destruction of trees reduces the forest’s capacity to store carbon, with knock-on effects for climate change. Beyond the environmental impact, he continued, local communities, agriculture, livestock farming, tourism, infrastructure and, in some cases, public safety are also affected. Restoration approach Cypriot forests largely have natural regeneration mechanisms, Kyriakou said, and the Forestry Department aims to keep interventions in the natural environment to a minimum. In the past, he said, terraces and contour strips were created using tractors or manual labour, practices that have since stopped. Today, gentler interventions are preferred, he explained, using manual methods, planting small areas and placing seeds, allowing nature to recover through its own mechanisms. After every fire within a state forest, he said, local forestry officers draw up a management plan, which is submitted for approval and sets out how each area will be restored. Asked whether the process applies to all areas across Cyprus, Kyriakou clarified that management plans are drawn up for all fires that break out within state forests. Regarding private land, he noted that the Department can’t step in on private plots or carry out planting without a request from the owners. “When we are asked, we stand by the owners to help them,” he said, adding that relevant support schemes exist. Planting for the Climate scheme He referred specifically to the “Planting for the Climate” scheme, announced during the winter period, which provides basic tree and shrub species free of charge. The species provided are well-adapted to Cyprus and are selected according to the climate and soil conditions of the area where they will be planted. Thousands of plants have been provided to communities and individuals through the scheme, he said, and the Forestry Department has also helped burned areas in the Limassol and Larnaca mountain regions. In the Limassol mountain region, he added, the Department has taken on planting entirely in the community parks of the affected communities. Kyriakou stressed that species unsuited to an area’s conditions, requiring large amounts of water or increased maintenance, and that could affect the behaviour of a future fire, should be avoided. Anyone can apply to the scheme, and planting can take place on public or private land. Applications for more than 50 plants require submission of a simple planting plan. The 1974 fires Kyriakou also referred to the major fires that broke out in 1974, during the Turkish invasion. Some of the affected areas underwent artificial reforestation by the Forestry Department, he said, while others were left to regenerate naturally and today show rich vegetation. He stressed, however, that it takes decades for trees to reach the size they were before the fire, noting that Cypriot forests can, in many cases, regenerate through their own natural mechanisms. (Information from Cyprus News Agency) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Onirodiadromes returns to fill Lefkara with music Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime after video shows drone attacking market vendor Investigators believe grinder sparks caused Agios Mamas fire, workers fled scene Government, PASYDY agree to set up public service reform committee Second Limassol road death in hours as scooter rider dies from injuries Bangladesh warns media against airing Hasina’s planned address from India Oi Mageirisses: flavours from home Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.