Only a few months ago, smoke choked the skies of Los Angeles. Homes of the rich and famous and regular citizens alike were burned indiscriminately. Entire streets of some of the wealthiest zip codes in the United States were reduced to rubble. Southern California is no stranger to wildfires – in fact, in the last 25 years, there have been over 92,000 Kha of tree cover within the state that has been lost to these devastating natural disasters.Â
However, the fires from this most recent season have caused the highest amount of economic damage that the state has ever experienced. Together, the three most notorious fires, including the Eaton, Palisades, and Auto fires, have far outpaced the economic loss caused by wildfires in any single period by leaps and bounds. It is estimated that the 2024-2025 fires contributed to a stunning $135 to $150 billion in damages. The previous state record, $16 billion, pales in comparison to these staggering numbers.  Â
National news coverage may have been elevated to the status of those affected by the fires, including famous actors, musicians, and directors. However, the impacts of wildfires have been experienced in many states besides California. In 2024, 7 million US acres were burned through by fires, which is equivalent to the size of Massachusetts and Puerto Rico put together. Alaska is surprisingly the state that has experienced the most damage from wildfires in the last 25 years.Â
There are also many other dangers that are facing the precious forests and various tree species that play such an important role in our ecosystems. Deforestation is one that has been induced by human activity and that has absolutely devastated some forest populations. Georgia and Alabama have both lost almost a quarter of their total land area to deforestation between the years 2000 and 2025. As we continue to clear out forests to make room for our expanding cities and the harvesting of resources, we have been starting to see terrible repercussions on the nature we depend on for survival.Â
Invasive pests, such as insects and diseases, have also damaged the biodiversity of our flora. The introduction of many of these pests can be traced back to human activity, such as unsustainable logging practices, fire suppression tactics, and other poor land management practices. 15% of the nation’s forest cover is affected by invasive insects per year, which translates to $40 billion in damages annually.Â
There are 300 billion trees in the United States, according to a census conducted by the USDA Forest Service. While this number may seem incomprehensibly large, each one is incredibly important to our entire ecosystem. From supplying the necessary base compounds for materials such as rubber and wood, to providing essential nuts and fruit to even producing the very air we breathe, trees play a necessary role in the continued survival of many species. In order to avoid future disasters like the Southern California wildfires, we must place the highest level of importance on treating our trees with sustainable practices.Â
