The image below shows the progression of how a forest develops.

Source: Dynamic Stage of a Forest, Mgerzon, Wikimedia Commons

Watch the video below to see how a forest in Montana recovered after a fire.

Let's pretend that lightning strikes a forest during a dry season causing a fire. Hundreds of acres of the trees are destroyed. Which statement and picture best illustrates what would happen next? Click in the explanation box to see if you are correct.

Statement	Picture	Explanation
The forest would become barren since there would be no one to plant more trees.		Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. Check Your Answer Sorry. Nature replenishes a forest by spreading seeds through wind and water. It isn't necessary for people to replant a forest. However people can speed up the process by planting and watering small trees. Close
Over many years, the forest would re-grow starting with small bushes and small trees.		Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. Check Your Answer Correct. A forest begins to re-grow with underbrush and bushes which are eventually replaced by small trees and then larger trees. Close
Since there are no trees for shade, the climate would change causing the average temperature to rise.		Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. Check Your Answer Oops. The lack of shade would not change the overall temperature of the area. Close
The ashes from the forest fire would slow the growth of new plants so the new forest would be different than the old forest.		Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. Check Your Answer No. The ashes would not prevent new trees from growing to replace the trees lost in the forest fire. Close