Forest fires play a big role in how the southern boreal forests change over time. By looking at old and new aerial photos, scientists found that most areas that burned between 1940 and 1970 saw changes in their forest cover. Coniferous forests were less likely to change after a fire, especially if the soil was well-drained. Areas with broadleaved or mixed forests were more likely to turn into coniferous forests after a fire, especially if the fire was severe and the soil was well-drained. This shows that coniferous forests in the southern boreal region are pretty good at bouncing back after a fire, even if fires happen more often in the future.