The effects of climatic change and wildland fires on air quality in national parks and wilderness areas

Abstract

How will climatic change and wildfire management policies affect public land management decisions concerning air quality through the 21st century? As global temperatures and populations increase and demands on natural resources intensify, managers must evaluate the trade-offs between air quality and ongoing ecosystem restoration. In protected areas, where wilderness values are paramount, public land agencies have adopted the policy of using wildfires to benefit natural resources, allowing naturally ignited fires to burn unless they present additional threats, such as fire risk to structures or degraded air quality.

Citation

McKenzie, Don. 2010. The effects of climatic change and wildland fires on air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. Fire Management Today. Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. 5 p. 70(1) 26-28.