biostudies-literatureHarrison MELeverhulme TrustGlobal Challenges Research Fund (GCRF)Global Challenges Research Funde2307216121https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11047076biostudies-literatureUnknown121(17)Uncontrolled fires place considerable burdens on forest ecosystems, compromising our ability to meet conservation and restoration goals. A poor understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystems and their biodiversity exacerbates this challenge, particularly in tropical regions where few studies have applied consistent analytical techniques to examine a broad range of ecological impacts over multiyear time frames. We compiled 16 y of data on ecosystem properties (17 variables) and biodiversity (21 variables) from a tropical peatland in Indonesia to assess fire impacts and infer the potential for recovery. Burned forest experienced altered structural and microclimatic conditions, resulting in a proliferation of nonforest vegetation and erosion of forest ecosystem properties and biodiversityProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaImpacts of fire and prospects for recovery in a tropical peat forest ecosystem.PMC11047076RL-2019-054NE/T010401/1Boyd NCSupriatna JAdulHoulihan PRYulintineHarrison MEStruebig MJHealy WSantianoMarchant NCFrank van Veen FJErb WMImron MARipoll Capilla BThornton SAHendriKulu IPDeere NJD'Arcy LJIwanKusin KHolly Bde Rivera Ortega ORSugardjito JSpencer KLPurwanto ACheyne SMAragay Soler JJeffers KAMorrogh-Bernard HCGreen HHusson SJPage SEAsti HACollins SANasir DfalseImpacts of fire and prospects for recovery in a tropical peat forest ecosystem.Uncontrolled fires place considerable burdens on forest ecosystems, compromising our ability to meet conservation and restoration goals. A poor understanding of the impacts of fire on ecosystems and their biodiversity exacerbates this challenge, particularly in tropical regions where few studies have applied consistent analytical techniques to examine a broad range of ecological impacts over multiyear time frames. We compiled 16 y of data on ecosystem properties (17 variables) and biodiversity (21 variables) from a tropical peatland in Indonesia to assess fire impacts and infer the potential for recovery. Burned forest experienced altered structural and microclimatic conditions, resulting in a proliferation of nonforest vegetation and erosion of forest ecosystem properties and biodiversity2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Apr2026-04-08T19:48:18.444Z2026-04-08T14:31:00.077ZS-EPMC110470763862112610.1073/pnas.2307216121