Tamm review: A meta-analysis of thinning, prescribed fire, and wildfire effects on subsequent wildfire severity in conifer dominated forests of the Western US

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 561, P. 121885 - 121885

Published: April 5, 2024

Increased understanding of how mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, and wildfire affect subsequent severity is urgently needed as people forests face a growing crisis. In response, we reviewed scientific literature for the US West completed meta-analysis that answered three questions: (1) How much do treatments reduce within treated areas? (2) effects vary with treatment type, age, forest type? (3) does fire weather moderate treatments? We found overwhelming evidence thinning pile burning only are effective at reducing severity, resulting in reductions between 62% 72% relative to untreated areas. comparison, was less – underscoring importance treating surface fuels when mitigating management goal. The efficacy these did not among types assessed this study high across range conditions. Prior had more complex impacts on which varied type initial severity. Across types, effectiveness declined over time, mean reduction decreasing than twofold occurred greater 10 years after treatment. Our provides up-to-date information extent active reduces facilitates better outcomes during future events.

Language: Английский

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Reducing Fire Severity and Extent Bolsters Subalpine Forest Resilience to Global Change Through Key Demographic Pathways

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT High‐elevation subalpine forests are experiencing rapid changes in climatic conditions, biological disturbances, and wildfire regimes. Despite this, evidence is mixed as to whether they will undergo major ecological transformation or be resilient a confluence of global change drivers. Here we use fir ( Abies lasiocarpa ) Englemann spruce Picea engelmannii ), which form co‐dominant through much the western United States, investigate how species' demographic responses influence forest community‐wide resilience. We do this by adapting building on an existing framework for post‐disturbance reorganization. With inventory data from States Forest Service Inventory Analysis (FIA) program, quantify population trends Engelmann across their joint distribution organize them new conceptual categorizing community trajectories. then build hierarchical Bayesian models mortality, regeneration, recruitment functions climate, disturbance extent severity, structural predictors. bring predictions together multinomial classification model combinations rates overall Finally, apply future climate scenarios our explore resilience may future. found strong negative relationships between demography both species line with energy‐limited system. Future scenario indicate that reducing severity can greatly bolster resilience; preferred way vary according fire history, type, biophysical setting, land tenure. Opportunities high‐impact management interventions concentrated northern Rocky Mountains, centers ongoing parts Oregon Washington Cascades.

Language: Английский

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When Active Management of high conservation value forests may erode biodiversity and damage ecosystems

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 305, P. 111071 - 111071

Published: March 6, 2025

Language: Английский

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Integrated fire management as an adaptation and mitigation strategy to altered fire regimes

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: March 15, 2025

Abstract Altered fire regimes are a global challenge, increasingly exacerbated by climate change, which modifies weather and prolongs seasons. These changing conditions heighten the vulnerability of ecosystems human populations to impacts wildfires on environment, society, economy. The rapid pace these changes exposes significant gaps in knowledge, tools, technology, governance structures needed adopt informed, holistic approaches management that address both current future challenges. Integrated Fire Management is an approach combines prevention, response, recovery while integrating ecological, socio-economic, cultural factors into strategies. However, remains highly context-dependent, encompassing wide array practices with varying degrees ecological societal integration. This review explores as adaptation mitigation strategy for altered regimes. It provides overview progress challenges associated implementing across different regions worldwide. also proposes five core objectives outlines roadmap incremental steps advancing adapt ongoing regimes, thereby maximizing its potential benefit people nature.

Language: Английский

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Contemporary fires are less frequent but more severe in dry conifer forests of the southwestern United States

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Oct. 11, 2024

Abstract Wildfires in the southwestern United States are increasingly frequent and severe, but whether these trends exceed historical norms remains contested. Here we combine dendroecological records, satellite-derived burn severity, field measured tree mortality to compare (1700-1880) contemporary (1985-2020) fire regimes at tree-ring fire-scar sites Arizona New Mexico. We found that frequency, including recent, record years, is still <20% of levels. Since 1985, return interval averages 58.8 compared 11.4 years before 1880. Fire however, has increased. At where trees historically survived many fires over centuries, 42% recent resulted high mortality. Suppressed wildfires tended more severely than prescribed burns managed for resource benefit. These findings suggest expanded use low-severity would help restore forest resilience dry conifer forests.

Language: Английский

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Disentangling the drivers of wildfires

Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387(6729), P. 22 - 23

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

The risk of wildfires varies across regions with different vegetation.

Language: Английский

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Being there: effectiveness of a 360-degree virtual tour for increasing understanding of forest treatments for fire hazard reduction in California, USA

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Abstract Background The increasing extent and severity of wildfires in the western USA poses a significant challenge to managers society. Forest thinning prescribed fire treatments reduce hazard improve resilience climatic stressors. However, expanding pace scale forest management is hampered, part, by limited understanding exposure interested parties public fuel reduction treatments. Virtual tour applications provide an opportunity extend tours treatment demonstration areas anyone with computer internet connection. Yet there little research on effectiveness virtual for enhancing if would deploy increase awareness. Here we describe development evaluation ( https://chorophronesis.geog.psu.edu/virtualexperiences/StanislausWebsite/indexSummer2022.html ) using surveys three occupational groups: managers, university students, non-student non-managers. Results improved self-reported how fires historically shaped forests, fuels changed absence fire, affects wildfire hazard, can be modified enhance biodiversity. was also effective at conveying differences between non-treatment among treatments, all groups. There strong agreement groups that field not option, good substitute. manager non-manager occupation expressed significantly greater questions utility technology aiding land planning discussions stimulating dialog their own networks compared students. Conclusions overwhelmingly positive response indicating potential use This could social barriers impeding scaling up are needed California elsewhere.

Language: Английский

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Short-term impacts of operational fuel treatments on modelled fire behaviour and effects in seasonally dry forests of British Columbia, Canada

International Journal of Wildland Fire, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(2)

Published: Feb. 4, 2025

Background In response to increasing risk of extreme wildfire across western North America, forest managers are proactively implementing fuel treatments. Aims We assessed the efficacy alternative combinations thinning, pruning and residue management mitigate potential fire behaviour effects in seasonally dry forests interior British Columbia, Canada. Methods Across five community forests, we measured stand attributes before after treatments 2021 2022, then modelled using Fire Fuels Extension Forest Vegetation Simulator. Key results For our study area, field measurements combined with modelling indicated: (1) low-intensity thinning from below reduced passive crown fire, whereas high-intensity active fire; (2) did not further reduce (3) chipping or pile burning mitigated but associated remain a concern. Conclusions implications There is limited prior research on impacts This contributes better understanding fire-prone Columbia.

Language: Английский

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A fire deficit persists across diverse North American forests despite recent increases in area burned

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Feb. 10, 2025

Rapid increases in wildfire area burned across North American forests pose novel challenges for managers and society. Increasing raises questions about whether, to what degree, contemporary fire regimes (1984–2022) are still departed from historical (pre-1880). We use the tree-ring fire-scar network (NAFSN), a multi-century record comprising >1800 sites spanning diverse forest types, perimeters ask whether there is surplus or deficit, recent years unprecedented relative regimes. Our results indicate, despite increasing decades, that widespread deficit persists range of types with exceptionally high not when considering perspective offered by fire-scarred trees. For example, 'record' such as 2020 6% NAFSN sites—the average—well below maximum 29% 1748. Although extent many forests, abundant evidence severity driving loss ecosystems adversely impacting human lives, infrastructure, water supplies. Across exceptional Nevertheless, suggests its adverse impacts on humans.

Language: Английский

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The national Fire and Fire Surrogate study: Effects of fuel treatments in the Western and Eastern United States after 20 years

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract The national Fire and Surrogate (FFS) study was initiated more than two decades ago with the goal of evaluating ecological impacts mechanical treatments prescribed fire in different ecosystems across United States. Since then, 4 original 12 sites remain active managing monitoring FFS which provides a unique opportunity to look at long‐term effects these regions. These include California (Blodgett Forest Research Station), Montana (Lubrecht Experimental Forest), North Carolina (Green River Game Land), Ohio (Ohio Hills). Although regions differed ecosystem type (e.g., conifer‐ vs. hardwood‐dominated), overall goals were promote desirable, fire‐adapted species, reduce hazard, improve understory diversity. Our uses multivariate techniques compare how desired outcomes maintained over last 20 years discusses whether we would modify given what know now. findings indicate that can tree mitigate potential behavior by reducing fuels retaining larger‐sized trees, decrease mortality, stimulate regeneration—effects are still apparent even after years. However, also found maintaining regionally specific western (California Montana) showing desirable characteristics under treatments, while eastern (North Ohio) showed burning. beneficial treatment long term when followed up repeated be adapted meet new objectives conditions. highlight as an invaluable resource for research provide evidence meeting restoration if type, accommodate adapting changing

Language: Английский

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