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Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 November 2022) | Viewed by 24326

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Molly E. Hunter

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Guest Editor

School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Interests: environment; ecology; natural management; forest management; seeds; forest; wildland fire

Special Issue Information

Fuel management programs have existed for decades and research in multiple systems has documented the effectiveness of such programs in mitigating the effects of wildfires. However, many questions remain regarding appropriate spatial and temporal scales of fuel treatment programs, as well as maximizing the benefits of fuel treatment with expanding wildland–urban interface, spread of invasive species, and warming and drying climate. This Special Issue will focus on advances in fuel treatment effectiveness science in the last 10 years, with a particular focus on strategies and advanced tools to maximize beneficial outcomes of fuel treatment programs given changing conditions. Many syntheses and guides on fuel treatment effectiveness in different systems have been published. Many such works, however, address the issue on a local or regional level and are over five years old. We are aware of no journal that has devoted an entire issue to the subject. The issue will include new approaches and tools used in fuel treatment planning

We are soliciting papers that cover the following: Research syntheses and thought pieces that could include the following subjects: fuel treatments at landscape-scales, the use of wildfire in fuels management, the economics of fuel treatments, fuel treatments and watershed services, fuel treatments in the wildland–urban interface, effectiveness of treatments in a changing climate, effectiveness of fuel treatments in different ecosystems, and human dimensions of fuel treatments

Dr. Molly E. Hunter
Guest Editor

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Keywords

fuel treatment
prescribed fire
fuel break
wildfire
wildland–urban interface
thinning
wildfire risk

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Incentive-Driven Policies to Reduce Social Losses Associated with Wildfire Risk Misinformation

by Ibtisam Al Abri

Forests 2022, 13(12), 2071; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122071 - 5 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1459

Abstract

Wildfires have caused significant ecological and social losses in terms of forest benefits, private dwellings, and suppression costs. Although great efforts have been made in wildfire policies and wildfire-mitigating strategies on private and public lands, devastating wildfires continue to occur. This implies there is a need for effective incentive-driven policies to encourage forest owners to undertake an increasing level of wildfire-mitigating actions. This study evaluates the effectiveness of alternative incentive-driven policies for the problem of two adjacent forest owners under various scenarios of misinformation about wildfire occurrence and spread using a stochastic dynamic model. The study also investigates how the implementation of these policies encourages wildfire-mitigating actions, yields larger reductions in social losses, and alleviates free-riding behavior. The outcomes of the analysis confirm that the effectiveness of incentive programs in reducing social losses and increasing forest value is influenced by the level of misinformation held by a forest owner when making wildfire prevention decisions. The results also revealed that fuel stock regulation is more effective at mitigating wildfire damages and associated costs than cost-share programs under all misinformation scenarios. It was also found that fuel stock regulation could correct free-riding behavior due to the restrictive nature of this policy. The findings provide additional motivation for educational programs that seek to improve forest owners’ knowledge about the private benefits of fuel removal and collaboration efforts between neighboring forest owners. Collaborative efforts could yield substantial savings for the government through eliminating cost-share programs and reducing suppression costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

12 pages, 1983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fire Severity in Reburns Depends on Vegetation Type in Arizona and New Mexico, U.S.A.

by Larissa L. Yocom, Jeff Jenness, Peter Z. Fulé and Andrea E. Thode

Forests 2022, 13(11), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111957 - 19 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

After more than a century of low fire activity in the western United States, wildfires are now becoming more common. Reburns, which are areas burned in two or more fires, are also increasing. How fires interact over time is of interest ecologically as well as for management. Wildfires may act as fuel treatments, reducing subsequent fire severity, or they may increase subsequent fire severity by leaving high fuel loads behind. Our goal was to assess whether previous wildfire severity influenced subsequent fire severity across vegetation types and over time in the Southwest U.S. using remotely sensed fire severity data in 2275 fires that burned between 1984 and 2019. Points that reburned tended to be those that burned with lower severity initially. Shrublands burned predominantly at moderate to high severity in initial fires and in reburns. Pinyon-juniper-oak systems burned with mixed severity, and fire severity was consistent from fire to fire. In ponderosa pine and aspen-mixed conifer, fire severity tended to decrease with each fire. Initial and subsequent fire severity was lower in points that reburned after a short interval. These remotely sensed observations of reburn severity need verification through field work to understand specific effects caused by reburns in different ecosystems. However, in ponderosa pine and aspen-mixed conifer forests, it may be beneficial to consider wildfires as fuel treatments and work to maintain the fuel reduction effects they have on forested ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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13 pages, 2426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Wildfire Fuel Load for Pinus densiflora Stands in South Korea Based on the Forest-Growth Model

by Sun-Joo Lee, Young-Jin Lee, Ju-Yeol Ryu, Chun-Geun Kwon, Kyung-Won Seo and Sung-Yong Kim

Forests 2022, 13(9), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091372 - 28 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2331

Abstract

A prediction model was developed for the wildfire fuel load of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) stands with susceptibility to forest fire based on the forest-growth model. Furthermore, a time-series analysis was performed on the variation in forest-fire fuel load according to forest management. National Forest Inventory stand data of 1434 plots for P. densiflora stands were used, and the final forest-fire fuel load prediction model was developed using the Weibull function and mortality model. The fit index of the diameter distribution model ranged from 0.58 (0th percentile) to 0.96 (50th percentile), and that of the mortality model was 0.68. The prediction of the stand growth variation after 20 years based on the growth data of managed and unmanaged stands indicated a mean stand density of 1518 trees per ha for unmanaged stands, and 885 trees per ha for managed stands. Regarding the variation in the available canopy fuel load distribution, the predicted annual increase was approximately 0.7 ton/ha for unmanaged stands and approximately 0.5 ton/ha for managed stands. These findings will contribute to setting fuel management criteria to prevent forest fire spread while providing the quantitative data of the characteristics of stand growth variation and the predicted wildfire fuel load. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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11 pages, 21891 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Evaluation of Early Silvicultural Treatments for Wildfire Prevention

by Míriam Piqué, José Ramón González-Olabarria and Eduard Busquets

Forests 2022, 13(6), 858; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13060858 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2212

Abstract

Thinning young forest stands is a common practice to improve the future development of the remaining trees and enhance their resistance to abiotic and biotic disturbances. The objective of this study was to consider the effectiveness of precommercial thinning, over time, implemented on Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) thickets, regarding fuel evolution and potential fire behavior. For this purpose, we established 44 plots on untreated and thinned Aleppo pine stands, measured all of the relevant fuel characteristics and simulated fire behavior under average and extreme fire weather scenarios. The plots were at different stages of fuel evolution (0.5 to 10 years since treatment, plus untreated stands), so that the evolution of the variables defining forest structure and the amount and distribution of surface fuels could be captured. The results show that precommercial thinning, when accompanied with pruning and surface fuel management, had a clear impact on fire behavior and on the potential of fire crowning during the first two to four years after the treatment. After that initial period, the buildup of understory vegetation minimized treatment effectiveness in mitigating potential fire behavior. In general, it can be stated that precommercial thinning has a positive impact on fire mitigation, but the impact that opening the tree canopy has on ground vegetation development must be considered in order to plan more efficient management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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13 pages, 2700 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparing Geography and Severity of Managed Wildfires in California and the Southwest USA before and after the Implementation of the 2009 Policy Guidance

by Jose M. Iniguez, Alexander M. Evans, Sepideh Dadashi, Jesse D. Young, Marc D. Meyer, Andrea E. Thode, Shaula J. Hedwall, Sarah M. McCaffrey, Stephen D. Fillmore and Rachel Bean

Forests 2022, 13(5), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13050793 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4307

Abstract

Managed wildfires, i.e., naturally ignited wildfires that are managed for resource benefits, have the potential to reduce fuel loads, minimize the effects of future wildfires, and restore critical natural processes across many forest landscapes. In the United States, the 2009 federal wildland fire policy guidance was designed to provide greater flexibility in the use of managed wildfires, but the effects of this policy on wildfires in the western US are not yet fully understood. Our goal was to compare managed and full suppression wildfires and to also analyze the differences between managed wildfires across space (Arizona/New Mexico and California) and time (before and after 2009) using four metrics for each wildfire: (1) distance to wilderness, (2) distance to the wildland–urban interface (WUI), (3) the percentage of area burned with high severity, and (4) the number of land management agencies. Across the study area, we found that managed wildfires were significantly closer to wilderness areas, were farther from the WUI, had a lower percentage of area that was burned at high severity, and had fewer agencies involved in managing the fire compared to full suppression wildfires. In California, managed wildfires occurred closer to wilderness and had a larger percentage of high-severity burn area compared to those in the southwest US (Arizona and New Mexico). Within each region, however, there were no significant geographic differences between managed wildfires before and after the implementation of the 2009 policy guidance. Despite the greater flexibility of the 2009 policy guidance, the basic geographic properties of managed wildfires in these two regions have not changed. As the climate warms and droughts intensify, the use of managed wildfires will need to expand during favorable weather conditions in order to address the threat of large and uncharacteristic wildfires to people and ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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15 pages, 783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Heterogeneous Management Interests in Reducing Social Losses from Wildfire Externalities

by Ibtisam Al Abri and Kelly Grogan

Forests 2021, 12(10), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101326 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1530

Abstract

The United States has experienced an even longer and more intense wildfire season than normal in recent years, largely resulting from drought conditions and a buildup of flammable vegetation. The derived stochastic dynamic model in this study was utilized to evaluate the interaction of wildfire risk mitigation policies for two adjacent landowners under various scenarios of forest benefits while accounting for full awareness of fire externalities. This study also evaluated the effectiveness of cost-share programs and fuel stock regulation and investigated under which scenarios of forest management interests the implementation of these policies encourages risk mitigation behaviors and yields larger reductions in social costs. The findings revealed that social costs significantly reduced after the implementation of cost-share programs and fuel stock regulation. Market-oriented adjacent landowners were more responsive to policy instruments compared to other types of neighboring landowners, and their responsiveness was greater for fuel stock regulation policies than for cost-share programs. Policymakers may introduce extra financial incentives or more rigorous fuel stock regulations to induce nonmarket-oriented landowners to undertake increased fuel management activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

16 pages, 3732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Effects of Fuel Reduction Treatments on Surface Fuel Loading in the Blue Mountains of Oregon

by Kat E. Morici and John D. Bailey

Forests 2021, 12(10), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101306 - 25 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2789

Abstract

Fire exclusion and a lengthening fire season has resulted in an era of megafires. Fuel reduction treatments in forested ecosystems are designed to guard against future extreme wildfire behavior. Treatments create a heterogenous landscape and facilitate ecosystem function and resilience in fire-adapted forests of the western United States. Despite widespread recognition that repeated fuel treatments are needed to maintain desired stand characteristics over time, few field studies have evaluated treatment longevity. The Blue Mountains Fire and Fire Surrogate site in northeastern Oregon presented an opportunity to investigate woody fuel loading 15–17 years after four treatments: mechanical thin, prescribed burn, both thin and burn, and no treatment control. The principal findings were: (1) fine fuel load 15 years post-burn remained slightly below pre-treatment values; (2) rotten coarse fuel load was reduced post-burn, but sound coarse fuel was not altered by any active treatment; and (3) total woody fuel load 15–17 years post-treatment was similar to pre-treatment values. Understanding surface fuel loading is essential for predicting fire behavior. Overall, the effects of fuel reduction treatments on woody surface fuels were transitory in dry mixed conifer forests. Frequent maintenance treatments are recommended to protect values at risk in areas with high fire hazards. Quantifying the persistence of changes in forest conditions aids in the planning and analysis of future fuel treatments, along with scheduling maintenance of existing treated areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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11 pages, 1526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forest Resistance to Extended Drought Enhanced by Prescribed Fire in Low Elevation Forests of the Sierra Nevada

by Phillip J. van Mantgem, Anthony C. Caprio, Nathan L. Stephenson and Adrian J. Das

Forests 2021, 12(9), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12091248 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2909

Abstract

Prescribed fire reduces fire hazards by removing dead and live fuels (small trees and shrubs). Reductions in forest density following prescribed fire treatments (often in concert with mechanical treatments) may also lessen competition so that residual trees might be more likely to survive when confronted with additional stressors, such as drought. The current evidence for these effects is mixed and additional study is needed. Previous work found increased tree survivorship in low elevation forests with a recent history of fire during the early years of an intense drought (2012 to 2014) in national parks in the southern Sierra Nevada. We extend these observations through additional years of intense drought and continuing elevated tree mortality through 2017 at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Relative to unburned sites, we found that burned sites had lower stem density and had lower proportions of recently dead trees (for stems ≤47.5 cm dbh) that presumably died during the drought. Differences in recent tree mortality among burned and unburned sites held for both fir (white fir and red fir) and pine (sugar pine and ponderosa pine) species. Unlike earlier results, models of individual tree mortality probability supported an interaction between plot burn status and tree size, suggesting the effect of prescribed fire was limited to small trees. We consider differences with other recent results and discuss potential management implications including trade-offs between large tree mortality following prescribed fire and increased drought resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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Review

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13 pages, 765 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Economic Value of Fuel Treatments: A Review of the Recent Literature for Fuel Treatment Planning

by Molly E. Hunter and Michael H. Taylor

Forests 2022, 13(12), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122042 - 1 Dec 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3287

Abstract

This review synthesizes the scientific literature on fuel treatment economics published since 2013 with a focus on its implications for land managers and policy makers. We review the literature on whether fuel treatments are financially viable for land management agencies at the time of implementation, as well as over the lifespan of fuel treatment effectiveness. We also review the literature that considers the broad benefits of fuel treatments across multiple sectors of society. Most studies find that fuel treatments are not financially viable for land management agencies based on revenue generated from forest products, biomass, or carbon credits at the time of implementation. Fuel treatments also tend to not be financially viable based on future management costs savings (fire suppression and rehabilitation costs) or averted losses in forest products from wildfire over the lifespan of treatment effectiveness. Similarly, most studies that consider benefits beyond those accruing to land management agencies find that the benefits from any single category (e.g., damage to structures and infrastructure, critical watersheds, air quality, or ecosystem values) are not sufficient to offset treatment costs. Overall, the recent literature suggests that fuel treatment projects are more likely to have benefits that exceed costs if they generate benefits in multiple categories simultaneously. The literature also documents tremendous variability in benefits and costs across regions and between projects within regions, which poses a challenge to reaching general conclusions about the benefits and costs of fuel treatments at programmatic scales, and suggests that practitioners should proceed with caution when trying to extrapolate the benefits and costs for a prospective fuel treatment project from estimates reported in the previous literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Ecological Effects of Wildfires and Effectiveness of Fuels Management)

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