Regenmapper

Reforestation needs across the western United States are increasing due to an increase in area burned by wildfire. Natural post-fire tree regeneration usually depends on the availability of tree seeds and post-fire climate conditions. If land managers can identify areas that are likely to regenerate naturally after a fire, they can prioritize reforestation efforts where they are most needed. 

Regenmapper is a web-based decision support system that provides spatial information on natural tree regeneration potential in burned areas. The program was developed to support post-fire planning and assessments and help prioritize reforestation needs. Regenmapper is freely available from a web browser and functions across all land ownerships in the 11 western states.

Go to Regenmapper

How does Regenmapper work?

Regenmapper allows users to select historical wildfires or upload their own burn severity maps for recent fires. Within the burned area, the program predicts the potential for natural regeneration based on distance to mature live trees (seed sources) and hydroclimatic conditions. Regenmapper uses soil water balance and surface temperature models to estimate the probability of natural seedling regeneration based on historical or future biophysical conditions, respectively, and species-specific climatic tolerances. 

To quickly identify accessible planting sites that are unlikely to reforest naturally, the program provides a simple planting prioritization algorithm based on distance to roads and the relative effects of dispersal and climatic limitations. For Forest Service land managers, Regenmapper provides an additional prioritization matrix based on fire severity, the probability of natural regeneration, and where federal law mandates reforestation when fires burn through recently harvested areas.

Outputs

Key outputs include 30-m resolution maps estimating the probability of tree regeneration for common western conifer species, and layers describing limitations related to climate and seed availability. 

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service Courtesy Zachary Holden

Regenmapper outputs from the Chippy Creek Fire in Montana, including burn severity, potential soil surface temperature, regeneration probability, and climate suitability.