Slow burn: the insidious effects of surface fires on tropical forests

Accidental surface fires are emerging as one of the most pervasive threats to tropical forests. Although unimpressive in appearance, these fires can have surprisingly potent impacts on rainforest plant and animal communities, as demonstrated by recent studies led by Jos Barlow and Carlos Peres in central Amazonia. Even worse, surface fires greatly increase the likelihood of far larger conflagrations that can lead to complete forest destruction.