What do we know about forest treatments and fire? Photos and long-term studies help us understand

Nehalem C. Clark; Signe Leirfallom; Hannah Farrell; Michael A. Battaglia; Brandon M. Collins; Justin S. Crotteau; Kimberley T. Davis; Paula J. Fornwalt; Paul F. Hessburg; Sharon M. Hood; Eric E. Knapp; W. Keith Moser; Jose Negron

Treesearch

What do we know about forest treatments and fire? Photos and long-term studies help us understand

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Nehalem C. Clark, Signe Leirfallom, Hannah Farrell, Michael A. Battaglia, Brandon M. Collins, Justin S. Crotteau, Kimberley T. Davis, Paula J. Fornwalt, Paul F. Hessburg, Sharon M. Hood, Eric E. Knapp, W. Keith Moser, Jose Negron

Year:

2024

Type:

Science Bulletins and Newsletters

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Science You Can Use In Photos. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 28 p.

Download (PDF 6.10 MB)

Download (PDF 6.10 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/68498.pdf

Abstract

Fire regimes in nearly all dry conifer forests in the western United States now vastly differ from past conditions, with many forests susceptible to uncharacteristic high-severity fire effects threatening human communities and degrading forest ecosystems. These forests historically experienced fire frequently, on the order of once every 3 to 30 years. Fires shaped the structure of the forest and the mix of plants. Forest treatments often aim to reduce the severity of future fire and improve the health and resilience of forests. But how do these treatments differ from each other? And how do these treatments change a forest over time?

Keywords

fuel treatments, wildfire, thinning, prescribed burns

Citation

Clark, Nehalem; Leirfallom, Signe; Farrell, Hannah; Battaglia, Mike; Collins, Brandon; Crotteau, Justin; Davis, Kimberley; Fornwalt, Paula; Hessburg, Paul; Hood, Sharon; Knapp, Eric; Moser, Keith; Negron, Jose. 2024. What do we know about forest treatments and fire? Photos and long-term studies help us understand. Science You Can Use In Photos. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 28 p.