Wageningen University & Research conducts research into the effects of forest fires, heathland fires and roadside fires on nature. For example, the causes of erosion and flooding after a wildfire are being investigated.
Researchers in Wageningen also provide advice to authorities, enabling them to focus on the rapid restoration of ground-covering vegetation after a wildfire. This helps the soil remain as intact as possible and recover quickly.
Wildfires cause ecological and economic damage every year across an area the size of the European Union. The heat of a wildfire can affect the soil and make it water-repellent, greatly increasing the risk of erosion and flooding.
By using an experimental wildfire to map out where and what happens in the soil during a fire, Wageningen researchers collect data to advise nature managers on how to limit damage and improve ecosystem management.
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