Prescribed fire science: the case for a refined research agenda

Fire Ecology

Adam C. Watts¹  Rodman Linn²  David Godwin³  Kevin Robertson⁴  J. Kevin Hiers⁴  Eric M. Rowell⁴  J. Morgan Varner⁵  E. Louise Loudermilk⁶  Joseph J. O’Brien⁶  Scott L. Goodrick⁶  Kara M. Yedinak⁷  James Furman⁸  Michael Gallagher⁹  Nicholas Skowronski^1,10  Matthew Dickinson^1,11  Bret W. Butler^1,12  Sharon M. Hood^1,12  Sarah McCaffrey^1,13  Andrew Hudak^1,14  Leda N. Kobziar^1,15 

[1] Desert Research Institute, 89512, Reno, Nevada, USA;Los Alamos National Lab, 87545, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA;Southern Fire Exchange, Tall Timbers Research Station, 32312, Tallahassee, Florida, USA;Tall Timbers Research Station, 32312, Tallahassee, Florida, USA;Tall Timbers Research Station, 32312, Tallahassee, Florida, USA;USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, 98103, Seattle, Washington, USA;USDA Forest Service Center for Forest Disturbance Science, 30602, Athens, Georgia, USA;USDA Forest Service Forest Products Lab, 53726, Madison, Wisconsin, USA;USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, 32570, Munson, Florida, USA;USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, 08064, New Lisbon, New Jersey, USA;USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, 26505, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA;USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, 43015, Delaware, Ohio, USA;USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, 59808, Missoula, Montana, USA;USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, 80526, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA;USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, 83844, Moscow, Idaho, USA;University of Idaho, Department of Natural Resources & Society, 83844, Moscow, Idaho, USA;

关键词: fire behavior;    fire effects;    fire weather;    fireline interactions;    fuels characterization;    post-fire tree mortality;    prescribed burning;    wildland fire research;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42408-020-0070-8

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

The realm of wildland fire science encompasses both wild and prescribed fires. Most of the research in the broader field has focused on wildfires, however, despite the prevalence of prescribed fires and demonstrated need for science to guide its application. We argue that prescribed fire science requires a fundamentally different approach to connecting related disciplines of physical, natural, and social sciences. We also posit that research aimed at questions relevant to prescribed fire will improve overall wildland fire science and stimulate the development of useful knowledge about managed wildfires. Because prescribed fires are increasingly promoted and applied for wildfire management and are intentionally ignited to meet policy and land manager objectives, a broader research agenda incorporating the unique features of prescribed fire is needed. We highlight the primary differences between prescribed fire science and wildfire science in the study of fuels, fire behavior, fire weather, fire effects, and fire social science. Wildfires managed for resource benefits (“managed wildfires”) offer a bridge for linking these science frameworks. A recognition of the unique science needs related to prescribed fire will be key to addressing the global challenge of managing wildland fire for long-term sustainability of natural resources.

【 授权许可】

CC BY