- Author
-
Keeley, J. E.
|
Aplet, G. H.
|
Christensen, N. L.
|
Conard, S. G.
|
Johnson, E. A.
|
Omi, P. N.
|
Peterson, D. L.
|
Swetnam, T. W.
- Title
- Ecological Foundations for Fire Management in North American Forest and Shrubland Ecosystems.
- Coporate
- Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
- Report
-
PNW-GTR-779; General Technical Report PNW-GTR-779,
March 2009,
92 p.
- Keywords
-
forest fires
|
wildland fires
|
management systems
|
ecology
|
fuels
|
fire hazard
|
fire seasons
|
fire risk
|
fire severity
|
climate
|
weather effects
|
fire spread
|
fire behavior
|
effectiveness
|
fire suppression
|
prescribed burning
- Identifiers
- Ponderosa pine (Western United States); chaparral (Pacific South Coast); Boreal Forest (Alaska and Canada); Great Basin Sagebrush (Intermountain West); pine and pine/hardwood forests (Southern Appalachians); Longleaf pine (Southeastern United States); fuel consumption and fire spread patterns; fire frequency; fire patch size and distribution; fire seasonality; climate and weather effects on fire regime; biogeographical patterns of fire regimes
- Abstract
- This synthesis provides an ecological foundation for management of the diverse ecosystems and fire regimes of North America, based on scientific principles of fire interactions with vegetation, fuels, and biophysical processes. Although a large amount of scientific data on fire exists, most of those data have been collected at small spatial and temporal scales. Thus, it is challenging to develop consistent science-based plans for large spatial and temporal scales where most fire management and planning occur. Understanding the regional geographic context of fire regimes is critical for developing appropriate and sustainable management strategies and policy. The degree to which human intervention has modified fire frequency, intensity, and severity varies greatly among different ecosystems, and must be considered when planning to alter fuel loads or implement restorative treatments. Detailed discussion of six ecosystems - ponderosa pine forest (western North America), chaparral (California), boreal forest (Alaska and Canada), Great Basin sagebrush (intermountain West), pine and pine-hardwood forests (Southern Appalachian Mountains), and longleaf pine (Southeastern United States) - illustrates the complexity of fire regimes and that fire management requires a clear regional focus that recognizes where conflicts might exist between fire hazard reduction and resource needs. In some systems, such as ponderosa pine, treatments are usually compatible with both fuel reduction and resource needs, whereas in others, such as chaparral, the potential exists for conflicts that need to be closely evaluated. Managing fire regimes in a changing climate and social environment requires a strong scientific basis for developing fire management and policy.