Forest restoration and fuels reduction work: Different pathways for achieving success in the Sierra Nevada

Ecological Applications, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 34(2)

Опубликована: Ноя. 10, 2023

Abstract Fire suppression and past selective logging of large trees have fundamentally changed frequent‐fire‐adapted forests in California. The culmination these changes produced that are vulnerable to catastrophic change by wildfire, drought, bark beetles, with climate exacerbating this vulnerability. Management options available address problem include mechanical treatments (Mech), prescribed fire (Fire), or combinations (Mech + Fire). We quantify forest structure composition, fuel accumulation, modeled behavior, intertree competition, economics from a 20‐year restoration study the northern Sierra Nevada. All three active (Fire, Mech, Mech Fire) conditions were much more resistant wildfire than untreated control. included lowest surface duff loads hazards. low hazards beginning 7 years after initial treatment had lower tree growth controls. only competition somewhat similar historical California mixed‐conifer was Fire, indicating stands under would likely be resilient enhanced stressors. While reduced hazard reintroduced fundamental ecosystem process, it done at net cost landowner. Using mastication thinning resulted positive revenues also relatively strong as an investment reducing hazard. represents compromise between desire sustain financial feasibility reintroduce fire. One key component long‐term conservation will continued maintain improve restoration. Many Indigenous people speak “active stewardship” one principles land management aligns well need for increased western US forests. If we do not use knowledge 20+ research longer tradition cultural practices knowledge, frequent‐fire continue degraded lost.

Язык: Английский

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Sustaining eastern oak forests: Synergistic effects of fire and topography on vegetation and fuels

Ecological Applications, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 34(3)

Опубликована: Фев. 13, 2024

Abstract Across much of the eastern United States, oak forests are undergoing mesophication as shade‐tolerant competitors become more abundant and suppress regeneration. Given historical role anthropogenic surface fires in promoting dominance, prescribed fire has important efforts to reverse sustain oaks. In 2000 we established Ohio Hills Fire Surrogate (FFS) study examine whether repeated (Fire), mechanical partial harvest (Mech), their combined application (Mech + Fire) reduced dominance subcanopy mesophytic competitors, increased abundance large oak–hickory advance regeneration, created a diverse productive ground‐layer flora, produced fuel beds conducive fire, reducing risk high‐severity wildfire. Here report on ~20‐year effects treatments vegetation fuels support for interactive across topographic‐moisture energy gradient. general, found that Mech tended while Mech‐only treatment did not. The moderate occasionally high‐intensity resulted were ultimately very similar between two but modulated by topography with increasing severity drier sites. particular, an interaction effect forest structure tree regeneration responses. generally density midstory sapling strata all site conditions, leading substantial gains dry intermediate landscape positions. also promoted diversity compositionally distinct communities primarily through richness native perennial herbs. However, had limited fine loading woody fuels, potentially wildfire during drought conditions. We conclude decades fires, without reduction, significantly shifted trajectory most landscape, particularly sites, highlighting capacity periodic regime promote plant topography.

Язык: 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, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 35(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 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

Язык: Английский

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Quantifying the impacts of rewilding on ecosystem resilience to disturbances: A global meta-analysis

Journal of Environmental Management, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 375, С. 124360 - 124360

Опубликована: Янв. 31, 2025

Rewilding is one approach to restoration that aims at restoring natural self-sustaining ecosystems, allowing processes resume by targeting an increase in trophic complexity, disturbance stochasticity, and dispersal, while minimizing human interventions. These components have also been argued enhance ecosystem resilience, yet this claim has barely specifically addressed. We conducted a meta-analysis explore whether rewilding interventions aimed increasing biodiversity (i.e., complexity), stochasticity or connectivity resilience future abiotic biotic disturbances. integrated two recently developed operational frameworks address scrutinized the outcomes of 42 case studies (305 observations). found that, overall, three abovementioned increased variables related demography, biodiversity, biophysical characteristics regime (70% Yet, result was influenced nature approach, with lower success reported for disturbances (drought fire) social-ecological resilience. While only together showed positive effects, complexity alone contributed less system biodiversity. The most common interventions, such as domestic wild herbivore introductions invasive plant removals, enhanced towards invasions). some particular contexts (social-ecological systems) lack sufficient observations allow clear conclusions. Overall, our results empirically demonstrate predominantly effects on underpinning potential preparing ecosystems uncertain climate change associated acknowledging limitations depending disturbance.

Язык: Английский

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Climate resilience through ecocultural stewardship

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 121(32)

Опубликована: Июль 29, 2024

The climate crisis has exacerbated many ecological and cultural problems including wildfire drought vulnerability, biodiversity declines, social justice equity. While there are concepts of resilience, the exemplar practices Indigenous stewardship recognized in having sustained peoples their countries for millennia past change events. California been at crossroads these issues, historic current contributions to addressing provide an excellent study ecocultural leadership by achieve resilience.

Язык: Английский

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Active management: a definition and considerations for implementation in forests of temperate Australia

Australian Forestry, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 87(3), С. 125 - 147

Опубликована: Июль 2, 2024

Active management is often mentioned but rarely defined in current policies and strategies for native forests of temperate Australia. Lack clarity about active could mean that to support forest health human involvement with are not fit purpose. In this paper, we summarise the policy context Victoria (as a case study Australia) review representations broader temperate-forest literature, including its place relation associated concepts like adaptive management. Based on review, provide definition focuses activities – deliberate practices diverse purposes goals situated within operational approaches (e.g. frameworks) enact overarching philosophy paradigm(s) Our acknowledges multiple potential framings encompass philosophies sociocultural relationships require governance structures foster inclusive understandings. Additional considerations implementing Australia's include refreshed visions management, clearly stated criteria choosing among under uncertainty, revised guidelines practices, commitment building evidence base through iterative learning targeted experiments an or analogous framework.

Язык: Английский

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Climate and humans interact to shape the fire regime of a chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest in eastern Bhutan

Fire Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 20(1)

Опубликована: Май 6, 2024

Abstract Background Chir pine ( Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) forests are distributed in the dry valleys of Bhutan Himalaya. In past, these have been heavily influenced by human activities such as grazing, burning, resin tapping, and collection non-timber forest products. Bhutan’s Forest Act 1969, which shifted management from local community control to centralized governmental control, greatly restricted activities. To understand implications on chir forests, we used tree-rings fire scars reconstruct history a eastern Bhutan. This provided an opportunity characterize regime before after 1969 was implemented assess scale magnitude changes that occurred. Results We developed 120-year chronology nine sites within single forested landscape. Between 1900 ~ 1970, fires were small patchy. When occurred, they limited one two larger study area. After there distinct shift activity, with 1985, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2013 burning > 90% sample plots. Fire activity positively associated La Niña conditions (wetter, cooler) preceding year. is likely result increased accumulation connectivity fuels floor wetter years. Conclusions Prior studied landscape dominated patchy, low-intensity indicating fuel limited. became more frequent. enactment regulated grazing policy strict exclusion government-reserved forests. led large buildup fuels, particularly Historical patterns prior kept loads low disconnected. The cessation most resulted increase has reshaped regimes over past half century.

Язык: Английский

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Ecological and cenotic features of natural regeneration of forests in the Left-Bank Polissya of Ukraine

Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 15(2), С. 118 - 134

Опубликована: Апрель 19, 2024

The research relevance of the complex, multi-stage process natural regeneration forest communities, as well interactions and transformations, is determined by rapidly growing challenges posed climate change, deforestation biodiversity loss. study aims to assess state identify ecological coenotic specificity seed leading forest-forming species Left-Bank Polissya Ukraine. was carried out using a set methods, primarily geobotanical, population mathematical statistical. recovery studied in communities that are typical for region belong 42 syntaxa rank associations 24 association groups. revealed specifics such Pinus sylvestris L., Quercus robur Acer platanoides Betula pendula Roth., Populus tremula Tilia cordata Mill. established representation undergrowth main plant Ukraine varies quite significantly. described determinants composition restoration, including peculiarities (fruit) dispersion adaptive potential plants. condition understory its density level soil moisture (the highest values most were recorded forests with soils moistened at fresh wet hygro-tops), this may intensify against background change. results can be used develop effective strategies management, conservation sustainable management Left Bank Polissia region, which will help improve environmental situation create favourable conditions restoration ecosystems

Язык: Английский

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Realignment of federal environmental policies to recognize fire’s role

Fire Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 20(1)

Опубликована: Авг. 26, 2024

Abstract Background Enactment of the Clean Air Act (CAA), Endangered Species (ESA), and National Environmental Policy (NEPA), three primary federal environmental laws, all coincided with height fire suppression exclusion in United States. These laws fail to acknowledge or account for importance many fire-adapted fire-dependent ecosystems, particularly American west, imperative restoration improve resiliency reduce wildfire risk as identified by western science Indigenous knowledge. We review statutory regulatory provisions these identify how existing policy framework misaligns unique role ecosystems Tribal sovereignty, specific barriers disincentives beneficial use, propose reforms. Results The CAA, ESA, NEPA inhibit use they are founded a that treats maintenance action human activity, rather than natural, baseline, keystone process. emergency exceptions policies accountability incentivize wrong kind fire, compliance creates perverse outcome disincentivizing restoration. Further, impede sovereignty. Conclusions Modifications would better enable risk, ultimately meet statutes’ core purposes. Federal agencies Congress should reform frameworks explicitly recognize process, such restoring at levels not significantly exceeding pre-1800 return intervals is treated agency action. non-Tribal governments attempt regulate cultural burning, it retained right peoples.

Язык: Английский

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Effects of stand structure and soil depth on soil properties in Cryptomeria japonica plantations

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 8

Опубликована: Апрель 2, 2025

Stand structure plays a crucial role in forest management, directly influencing the physicochemical properties of soils and, consequently, health and productivity. Cryptomeria japonica plantations are widely distributed mountainous regions Japan China hold an important ecological status. This study aims to investigate effects different stand structures soil depths on Lushan region China. The was conducted National Nature Reserve. classified into three categories—good, medium, poor—based canopy closure (<0.5, 0.5–0.7, >0.7), understory vegetation cover (>0.8, 0.6–0.8, <0.5), density (<650, 650–900, >900 trees per hectare). Soil samples were collected from plots representing at four depth intervals (0–10 cm, 10–20 20–30 30–40 cm) analyzed for bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity, as well contents carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), their stoichiometric ratios. results indicated that both significantly affected physical characteristics soil. Compared with poor structures, good reduced increased enhanced capacity. Moreover, stands exhibited higher organic total contents, particularly surface layer cm), while C:N, C:P, N:P ratios gradually decreased increasing depth. demonstrated maintaining structure—characterized by low closure, high cover, moderate density—can improve nutrient cycling efficiency. These findings provide scientific basis sustainable suggesting optimizing can enhance overall ecosystem functionality.

Язык: Английский

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