Contemporary patterns of burn severity heterogeneity from fires in the Northwestern U.S.

Abstract

Historically, frequent, low-severity fires maintained opengrown structure of dry ponderosa pine forests (Hessburg and Agee 2003). Thus, an open forest structure may be a reasonable template for ecological restoration in those particular forest types (Allen and others 2002). In contrast, setting goals for ecosystem management and restoration targets in the vast majority of forests that are typified by mixed-severity fire, where forest structure historically varied across time and space, has proven more difficult (Halofsky and others 2011; Perry and others 2011).

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the large wildland fires conference; May 19-23, 2014; Missoula, MT

Citation

Belote, R. Travis. 2015. Contemporary patterns of burn severity heterogeneity from fires in the Northwestern U.S.. In: Keane, Robert E.; Jolly, Matt; Parsons, Russell; Riley, Karin. Proceedings of the large wildland fires conference; May 19-23, 2014; Missoula, MT. Proc. RMRS-P-73. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 252-256.