The replacement of natural fynbos vegetation with pine plantations in the Southern Cape in South Africa significantly increased the severity of the 2017 Knysna wildfires. It is estimated that pine trees have invaded more than 90% of the Garden Route National Park’s fynbos vegetation at various densities. In June 2017, the Knysna fires burned 14 958 hectares, of which one third comprised natural vegetation. Of the land in the altered category, 52% were commercial plantations of invasive alien trees and 26% was other land invaded by alien plants. (http://bit.ly/2AZoOlk)