Visual Impacts of Prescribed Burning on Mixed Conifer and Giant Sequoia Forests

Abstract

Prescribed burning programs have evolved with little concern for the visual impact of burning and the potential prescribed burning can have in managing the forest scene. Recent criticisms by the public of the prescribed burning program at Sequoia National Park resulted in an outside review of the National Park fire management programs in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks. This paper evaluates the visual impacts of burning and of not burning in the giant sequoia-mixed conifer forest type. Alternatives to current techniques are suggested which will reduce the negative visual impacts and incorporate scene management as a part of the prescribed burning program. The need for a new awareness of the visual impacts of prescribed burning is discussed.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the symposium on wildland fire 2000; April 27-30, 1987; South Lake Tahoe, California

Citation

Cotton, Lin; McBride, Joe R. 1987. Visual Impacts of Prescribed Burning on Mixed Conifer and Giant Sequoia Forests. In: Davis, James B.; Martin, Robert E., technical coordinators. 1987. Proceedings of the Symposium on Wildland Fire 2000, April 27-30, 1987, South Lake Tahoe, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-101. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 32-37