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Author(s):
Thomas T. Veblen
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Regime
Management Approaches
Recovery after fire
Ecosystem(s):
Subalpine wet spruce-fir forest, Subalpine dry spruce-fir forest, Montane wet mixed-conifer forest, Montane dry mixed-conifer forest

NRFSN number: 11025
FRAMES RCS number: 13209
Record updated:

The premise behind many projects aimed at wildfire hazard reduction and ecological restoration in forests of the western United States is the idea that unnatural fuel buildup has resulted from suppression of formerly frequent fires. This premise and its implications need to be critically evaluated by conducting area-specific research in the forest ecosystems targeted for fuels or ecological restoration projects. Fire regime researchers need to acknowledge the limitations of fire history methodology and avoid over-reliance on summary fire statistics such as mean fire interval and rotation period. While fire regime research is vitally important for informing decisions in the areas of wildfire hazard mitigation and ecological restoration, there is much need for improving the way researchers communicate their results to managers and the way managers use this information.

Citation

Veblen, Thomas T. 2003. Key issues in fire regime research for fuels management and ecological restoration. In: Omi, Philip N.; Joyce, Linda A., tech. eds. Fire, fuel Treatments, and ecological restoration: conference proceedings; 2002 April 16-18; Fort Collins, Colorado. Proceedings RMRS-P-29. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 259-275.