Stand-Level Fuel Reduction Treatments and Fire Behaviour in Canadian Boreal Conifer Forests

Fire

Hilary Cameron¹  JenniferL. Beverly¹  SonjaE. R. Leverkus¹  Dave Schroeder² 

[1] Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada;Forestry Division, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, 9th Floor, 9920-108 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 2M4, Canada;

关键词: vegetation management;    wildland–urban interface (WUI);    FireSmart;    fire risk;    mitigation;    crown fire initiation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/fire3030035

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Stand-level fuel reduction treatments in the Canadian boreal zone are used predominantly in community protection settings to alter the natural structure of dominant boreal conifer stands such as black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia). The aim of these fuel treatments is to inhibit the development of fast-spreading, high-intensity crown fires that naturally occur in boreal forest ecosystems. We document fuel treatment design standards used in boreal forests in Canada and review data requirements and methodological approaches for investigating fuel treatment effects on fire behaviour. Through a series of illustrative examples and summaries of empirical observations, we explore the implications of data and modelling assumptions used to estimate fire behaviour in fuel-treated areas and identify insights about fuel treatment effectiveness in boreal conifer stands. Fuel treatments in black spruce, jack pine and lodgepole pine stands were generally effective at reducing modelled and observed fire behaviour and inhibiting crown fire development and spread under low to moderate fire weather conditions. Evidence suggests that fuel treatments in these fuel types will be ineffective when rates of spread and wind speeds are very high or extreme. High surface fuel loads combined with the relatively short stature of boreal conifer trees can further undermine fuel treatment efforts. Priority areas for future study include examining alternatives for managing surface fuel loads in treated stands, exploring the viability of alternative horizontal fuel reduction protocols such as clumped fuel configurations, and integrating suppression and containment strategies within the fuel treatment planning and design process.

【 授权许可】

Unknown