Task · part of 7. What harms forests, what helps, and what to do about a fire
7(a). Consequences to forests from FIVE of ten named elements
Required
Chosen from wildfire, absence of fire, destructive insects, loss of pollinating insect population, tree diseases, air pollution, overgrazing, deer or other wildlife overpopulation, improper harvest and urbanization. The ten are listed inside the requirement, so the choice is entirely yours.
Notes and warnings
Note. Ten elements are offered and you need five, and they are listed inside the requirement rather than lettered out, so the choice is entirely yours to make. Worth choosing with 7(b) in mind: it asks what can be done to reduce the consequences you just described, so pick five you can also suggest remedies for. "Absence of fire" is the one that surprises people, and it connects straight back to prescribed burning in requirement 4(e).
Where this step comes from
- Forestry Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2026-01-27), Requirement 7(a)