Ecological Effects of Fire and Fire Management

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Research Staff

John Hogan

Natasha Kotliar

 

Research Task: 8327CNC.1.0
Task Manager: Natasha Kotliar

Historically, fire was a dominant disturbance in the Rocky Mountain region. Over the past century, however, wildfire suppression has caused increased risk of wildfire at urban/wildland interfaces across the Rockies. Recent efforts to re-introduce natural fire regimes into public lands for reducing fuel loads have met with mixed success, since prescribed fire can escape and pose significant hazards to nearby communities. To minimize these hazards, land managers are increasing their use of mechanical treatments (e.g., thinning) to reduce fuel loads prior to burning. Mechanical treatments, however, are often viewed by the public as inconsistent with mandates associated with public lands. Furthermore, the suitability of fuels reduction approaches varies according to forest type and condition. Because hazard mitigation is costly, park managers must prioritize areas for treatment and compare fuel treatment options according to their relative risk. Thus, there is a need for tools that evaluate the effects of fuel reduction alternatives on species of concern, the long-term health of forests, and the relative risks of fire to adjacent communities. The objectives of this study include (1) evaluating the effectiveness of prescribed fire and other fuels reduction practices and their effects on ecological communities in montane forests of the Rocky Mountains; (2) developing tools for assessing and modeling post-fire effects; (3) developing a proactive program for at-risk communities to reduce their risk from fire, provide for enhanced response to fire events, and facilitate post-fire involvement in the recovery process; and (4) taking an interdisciplinary approach to fire science to factilitate integration and evaluation of trade-offs among ecological, economic, and social impacts of fire management policies and practices.

 For more information contact Natasha Kotliar