For the Gwich'in indigenous people of northern Alaska and Canada, fire keeps them warm during the cold snaps and is central to their culture, language and way of life.
In the past, fire was also used to renew the landscape, said Mr Edward Alexander, co-chair of Gwich'in Council International, an organisation that represents 9,000 Gwich'in people.
Growing up, he saw the elders in his community in Alaska set grassland and meadows on fire in springtime, when snow still coated the forest, as part of a cultural burning practice. Such fires fended off harmful bugs, made the forests more liveable for migratory birds, and prevented uncontrollable wildfires.
He was speaking at an indigenous people's forum on Jan 30 at the annual Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromso, Norway.
At the forum, indigenous groups said they want to revive their centuries-long cultural burning practice to tame the flammable forests.
Boreal forests stretching across the Arctic are among the largest vegetation on the planet, and underneath them lies a frozen giant awakening from its slumber - the permafrost. This frozen soil has been thawing amid a warming Arctic, and it stores at least twice the amount of carbon that is already in the earth's atmosphere.
この記事は The Straits Times の February 26, 2024 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は The Straits Times の February 26, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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