Temperate and boreal forest mega-fires: characteristics and challenges

Mega-fires are often defined according to their size and intensity but are more accurately described by their socioeconomic impacts. Three factors - climate change, fire exclusion, and antecedent disturbance, collectively referred to as the "mega-fire triangle" - likely contribute to today...

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Veröffentlicht in:Frontiers in ecology and the environment Jg. 12; H. 2; S. 115 - 122
Hauptverfasser: Stephens, Scott L, Burrows, Neil, Buyantuyev, Alexander, Gray, Robert W, Keane, Robert E, Kubian, Rick, Liu, Shirong, Seijo, Francisco, Shu, Lifu, Tolhurst, Kevin G, van Wagtendonk, Jan W
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Ecological Society of America 01.03.2014
Schlagworte:
Boreal forests
climate change
ecological resilience
ecosystems
Fire ecology
Fire management
fire regime
Fire regimes
Forest ecology
Forest ecosystems
Forest fire management
Forest fires
Forest management
managers
prescribed burning
REVIEWS
risk
Western Australia
Wildfires
Australia, Western Australia
Western Australia
ISSN:1540-9295, 1540-9309
Online-Zugang:Volltext
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Zusammenfassung:Mega-fires are often defined according to their size and intensity but are more accurately described by their socioeconomic impacts. Three factors - climate change, fire exclusion, and antecedent disturbance, collectively referred to as the "mega-fire triangle" - likely contribute to today's mega-fires. Some characteristics of mega-fires may emulate historical fire regimes and can therefore sustain healthy fire-prone ecosystems, but other attributes decrease ecosystem resiliency. A good example of a program that seeks to mitigate mega-fires is located in Western Australia, where prescribed burning reduces wildfire intensity while conserving ecosystems. Crown-fire-adapted ecosystems are likely at higher risk of frequent mega-fires as a result of climate change, as compared with other ecosystems once subject to frequent less severe fires. Fire and forest managers should recognize that mega-fires will be a part of future wildland fire regimes and should develop strategies to reduce their undesired impacts.
Bibliographie:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
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ISSN:1540-9295
1540-9309
DOI:10.1890/120332