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Too hot, too cold, or just right: Can wildfire restore dry forests of the interior Pacific Northwest? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281927. [PMID: 36848330 PMCID: PMC9970105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As contemporary wildfire activity intensifies across the western United States, there is increasing recognition that a variety of forest management activities are necessary to restore ecosystem function and reduce wildfire hazard in dry forests. However, the pace and scale of current, active forest management is insufficient to address restoration needs. Managed wildfire and landscape-scale prescribed burns hold potential to achieve broad-scale goals but may not achieve desired outcomes where fire severity is too high or too low. To explore the potential for fire alone to restore dry forests, we developed a novel method to predict the range of fire severities most likely to restore historical forest basal area, density, and species composition in forests across eastern Oregon. First, we developed probabilistic tree mortality models for 24 species based on tree characteristics and remotely sensed fire severity from burned field plots. We applied these estimates to unburned stands in four national forests to predict post-fire conditions using multi-scale modeling in a Monte Carlo framework. We compared these results to historical reconstructions to identify fire severities with the highest restoration potential. Generally, we found basal area and density targets could be achieved by a relatively narrow range of moderate-severity fire (roughly 365-560 RdNBR). However, single fire events did not restore species composition in forests that were historically maintained by frequent, low-severity fire. Restorative fire severity ranges for stand basal area and density were strikingly similar for ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and dry mixed-conifer forests across a broad geographic range, in part due to relatively high fire tolerance of large grand (Abies grandis) and white fir (Abies concolor). Our results suggest historical forest conditions created by recurrent fire are not readily restored by single fires and landscapes have likely passed thresholds that preclude the effectiveness of managed wildfire alone as a restoration tool.
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Hagmann RK, Hessburg PF, Prichard SJ, Povak NA, Brown PM, Fulé PZ, Keane RE, Knapp EE, Lydersen JM, Metlen KL, Reilly MJ, Sánchez Meador AJ, Stephens SL, Stevens JT, Taylor AH, Yocom LL, Battaglia MA, Churchill DJ, Daniels LD, Falk DA, Henson P, Johnston JD, Krawchuk MA, Levine CR, Meigs GW, Merschel AG, North MP, Safford HD, Swetnam TW, Waltz AEM. Evidence for widespread changes in the structure, composition, and fire regimes of western North American forests. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02431. [PMID: 34339067 PMCID: PMC9285092 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Implementation of wildfire- and climate-adaptation strategies in seasonally dry forests of western North America is impeded by numerous constraints and uncertainties. After more than a century of resource and land use change, some question the need for proactive management, particularly given novel social, ecological, and climatic conditions. To address this question, we first provide a framework for assessing changes in landscape conditions and fire regimes. Using this framework, we then evaluate evidence of change in contemporary conditions relative to those maintained by active fire regimes, i.e., those uninterrupted by a century or more of human-induced fire exclusion. The cumulative results of more than a century of research document a persistent and substantial fire deficit and widespread alterations to ecological structures and functions. These changes are not necessarily apparent at all spatial scales or in all dimensions of fire regimes and forest and nonforest conditions. Nonetheless, loss of the once abundant influence of low- and moderate-severity fires suggests that even the least fire-prone ecosystems may be affected by alteration of the surrounding landscape and, consequently, ecosystem functions. Vegetation spatial patterns in fire-excluded forested landscapes no longer reflect the heterogeneity maintained by interacting fires of active fire regimes. Live and dead vegetation (surface and canopy fuels) is generally more abundant and continuous than before European colonization. As a result, current conditions are more vulnerable to the direct and indirect effects of seasonal and episodic increases in drought and fire, especially under a rapidly warming climate. Long-term fire exclusion and contemporaneous social-ecological influences continue to extensively modify seasonally dry forested landscapes. Management that realigns or adapts fire-excluded conditions to seasonal and episodic increases in drought and fire can moderate ecosystem transitions as forests and human communities adapt to changing climatic and disturbance regimes. As adaptation strategies are developed, evaluated, and implemented, objective scientific evaluation of ongoing research and monitoring can aid differentiation of warranted and unwarranted uncertainties.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. K. Hagmann
- College of the Environment‐SEFSUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashington98195USA
- Applegate Forestry LLCCorvallisOregon97330USA
| | - P. F. Hessburg
- College of the Environment‐SEFSUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashington98195USA
- USDA‐FS, Forestry Sciences LaboratoryPacific Northwest Research StationWenatcheeWashington98801USA
| | - S. J. Prichard
- College of the Environment‐SEFSUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashington98195USA
| | - N. A. Povak
- USDA‐FS, Forestry Sciences LaboratoryPacific Northwest Research StationWenatcheeWashington98801USA
- USDA‐FS, Pacific Southwest Research StationPlacervilleCalifornia95667USA
| | - P. M. Brown
- Rocky Mountain Tree‐Ring ResearchFort CollinsColorado80526USA
| | - P. Z. Fulé
- School of ForestryNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizona86011USA
| | - R. E. Keane
- Missoula Fire Sciences LaboratoryUSDA‐FS, Rocky Mountain Research StationMissoulaMontana59808USA
| | - E. E. Knapp
- USDA‐FS, Pacific Southwest Research StationReddingCalifornia96002USA
| | - J. M. Lydersen
- Fire and Resource Assessment ProgramCalifornia Department of Forestry and Fire ProtectionSacramentoCalifornia94244USA
| | | | - M. J. Reilly
- USDA‐FS, Pacific Northwest Research StationCorvallisOregon97333USA
| | - A. J. Sánchez Meador
- Ecological Restoration InstituteNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizona86011USA
| | - S. L. Stephens
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California–BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia94720USA
| | - J. T. Stevens
- U.S. Geological SurveyFort Collins Science CenterNew Mexico Landscapes Field StationSanta FeNew Mexico87508USA
| | - A. H. Taylor
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Systems InstituteThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania16802USA
| | - L. L. Yocom
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology CenterUtah State UniversityLoganUtah84322USA
| | - M. A. Battaglia
- USDA‐FS, Rocky Mountain Research StationFort CollinsColorado80526USA
| | - D. J. Churchill
- Washington State Department of Natural ResourcesOlympiaWashington98504USA
| | - L. D. Daniels
- Department of Forest and Conservation SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaV6T 1Z4Canada
| | - D. A. Falk
- School of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizona85721USA
- Laboratory of Tree‐Ring ResearchUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizona85721USA
| | - P. Henson
- Oregon Fish and Wildlife OfficeUSDI Fish & Wildlife ServicePortlandOregon97232USA
| | - J. D. Johnston
- College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregon97333USA
| | - M. A. Krawchuk
- College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregon97333USA
| | - C. R. Levine
- Spatial Informatics GroupPleasantonCalifornia94566USA
| | - G. W. Meigs
- Washington State Department of Natural ResourcesOlympiaWashington98504USA
| | - A. G. Merschel
- College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregon97333USA
| | - M. P. North
- USDA‐FS, Pacific Southwest Research StationMammoth LakesCalifornia93546USA
| | - H. D. Safford
- USDA‐FS, Pacific Southwest RegionVallejoCalifornia94592USA
| | - T. W. Swetnam
- Laboratory of Tree‐Ring ResearchUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizona85721USA
| | - A. E. M. Waltz
- Ecological Restoration InstituteNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizona86011USA
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Johnston JD, Greenler SM, Miller BA, Reilly MJ, Lindsay AA, Dunn CJ. Diameter limits impede restoration of historical conditions in dry mixed‐conifer forests of eastern Oregon, USA. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James D. Johnston
- Oregon State University College of Forestry 140 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis Oregon97333USA
| | - Skye M. Greenler
- Oregon State University College of Forestry 140 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis Oregon97333USA
| | - Becky A. Miller
- Parks Canada Agency 2220 Harbour Road Sidney British ColumbiaV8L 2P6Canada
| | - Matthew J. Reilly
- USDA Forest ServicePacific Northwest Research Station, Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Amanda A. Lindsay
- USDA Forest ServiceMalheur National Forest 431 Patterson Bridge Road John Day Oregon97845USA
| | - Christopher J. Dunn
- Oregon State University College of Forestry 140 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis Oregon97333USA
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Levine CR, Cogbill CV, Collins BM, Larson AJ, Lutz JA, North MP, Restaino CM, Safford HD, Stephens SL, Battles JJ. Estimating historical forest density from land-survey data: a response to Baker and Williams (2018). ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01968. [PMID: 31257657 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carrie R Levine
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Charles V Cogbill
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, 324 North Main Street, Petersham, Massachusetts, 01366, USA
| | - Brandon M Collins
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1731 Research Park Drive, Davis, California, 95618, USA
- Center for Fire Research and Outreach, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720-3114, USA
| | - Andrew J Larson
- Department of Forest Management, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - James A Lutz
- S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, 5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah, 84322-5230, USA
| | - Malcolm P North
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1731 Research Park Drive, Davis, California, 95618, USA
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | | | - Hugh D Safford
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California, 94592, USA
| | - Scott L Stephens
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, California, 94720-3114, USA
| | - John J Battles
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, California, 94720-3114, USA
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Baker WL, Williams MA. Estimating historical forest density from land-survey data: Response. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e02017. [PMID: 31596977 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William L Baker
- Department of Geography/Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Mark A Williams
- Department of Geography/Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
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Cassell BA, Scheller RM, Lucash MS, Hurteau MD, Loudermilk EL. Widespread severe wildfires under climate change lead to increased forest homogeneity in dry mixed‐conifer forests. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A. Cassell
- Environmental Science and Management Department Portland State University Portland Oregon USA
| | - Robert M. Scheller
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Melissa S. Lucash
- Department of Geography Portland State University Portland Oregon USA
| | - Matthew D. Hurteau
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | - E. Louise Loudermilk
- Southern Research Station Center for Forest Disturbance Science USDA Forest Service Athens Georgia USA
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