Underfunded forest and wildlife ecosystems are continuous targets for natural and human-made forest fires. The old and decaying shrubs, poles, bushes, grasses, leaves, and trees create a highly combustible fuel source if left unmaintained. Poor social-economic conditions and underfunded forest and wildlife management pose an increased risk of poaching through the process of initiating a forest fire to draw out animals.
Selective and responsible forest management helps to eliminate decaying matter from releasing harmful methane gases back into the atmosphere. It also prevents this matter from turning into a fuel source on the forest floor.