Use of prescribed burning for restoration and maintenance of ecological conditions: Predicting and managing fire injury and tree mortality

Abstract

Throughout Earth’s history fire has been a major disturbance factor in many terrestrial ecosystems. Fire is man’s first tool. It was used for a host of cultural purposes to modify stand structure and species composition as well as landscape pattern and process. Changes in climate and land use are leading to changes in vegetation and the frequency and severity of modern fire disturbances. As a major determinant of historic vegetation structure and species composition it is appropriate to consider using fire as a restoration tool. The ecologically principaled, safe, effective use of fire in restoration requires integration across diverse disciplines from the physics and chemistry of combustion and heat transfer to biology and ecology. This paper is a primer on recent research on the effects of fire on conifers with emphasis on Europe and western North America and is intended to foster dialog and additional research on the role and use of fire in restoration.

Citation

Ryan, K. C.; Rigolot, E.; Rego, F. C.; Botelho, H.; Vega, J. A.; Fernandes, P. M.; Sofronova, T. M. 2010. Use of prescribed burning for restoration and maintenance of ecological conditions: Predicting and managing fire injury and tree mortality. In: Proceedings 7th European Conference on Ecological Restoration; 23-27 August 2010; Avignon, France. Washington DC: Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER). 4 p.