Invasive and fire-prone grass species have moved in over time and during a fire they can burn into native forests, which means the forests are replaced by more grass. — Reuters
THE fast-moving wildfires that raked Maui recently took a heavy toll on humans and property, killing more than 110 people and devastating the historic town of Lahaina. But their effects on the landscape and environment in Hawaii are also expected to be significant.
Experts say the fires are likely to transform the landscape in unwanted ways including hastening erosion, sending sediment into waterways and degrading coral that is critically important to the islands, marine life and the humans who live nearby.
