Wildland recreation research: literature review and synthesis

Wildland Recreation

There is an increasingly comprehensive body of literature outlining the role that fire plays in the forest ecosystem. Several sources tie the role of fire to some of the present issues in our national parks and forests today; and illustrate how controlled or prescribed burns can be a positive tool in the practice of forest management.

B.M. Kilgore outlined in a 1970 article in National Parks and Conservation Magazine research that proves periodic light fires play a vital role in the conservation of forests. He relates this finding to the recognition that suppression of fire represented a hazard in Sequoia NP, and that it had been found that burning debris on the forest floor reduced the chance of a major fire.

In a follow-up article in Naturalist in 1972, Kilgore outlines the natural role of fire in wild lands. He illustrates this with examples of the impact of fire on several types of trees. The article also outlines seven ways in which fire is significant: it cycles nutrients; prepares a seedbed; provides favorable conditions for wildlife; prepares a mosaic of age classes & vegetation types; it sets back succession; it reduces the possibility of attack by insects; and it reduces the risk of fire hazard.

The 2007 press release from the Forest Service Unit at the Coronado NF outlined some of the dangers of fire suppression, including many trees competing for limited resources; trees becoming unhealthy; and an increase in fire danger from an increase in debris on the forest floor. Fire policy in the Coronado NF, the article continues, is influenced by the role that fire would play in the absence of human intervention; and the departure that present conditions represent from the historical conditions. By factoring these into prescribed burn plans, the Forest Service hopes to achieve the best possible results in its prescribed burn program.

JP Ferguson, writing in Fire Management Today in 2005, outlines five keys to success in building a prescribed fire program. They are: breaking the suppression mindset that many old-school fire managers have; better training programs; seeing the big picture rather than focusing strictly on short-term outcomes; expanding the burning window; and getting individuals into the fire program who have the drive, vision and desire to implement successful prescribed fire programs.

In a 1982 article in Bioscience, W.H. Romme and DH Knight discuss the change in landscape patterns, and how these affect natural features. Landscape patterns are intrinsically important to the ecosystem of any national park and have a direct impact on plant diversity. This is important for the discussion of planting and planning after the controlled or prescribed burn.

In a 2005 article in National Parks Magazine, S. Kirkwood outlines how regrowth after a fire begins immediately. As more sunlight and rainfall reach the ground, grass and flowers quickly sprout from the soil, which has been enriched with ash.

Turner, Hargrove, Gardner and Romme analyze in the Journal of Vegetation Science the relationship between heterogeneity and fire size. This work is based on a study of certain scientific after effects of burning in Yellowstone. The information gleaned from this report allows forest managers to determine strategic locations for planting certain types of plant species after fires.

M. Murray in a 2008 article in Fire Management Today illustrates a study that provides guidance on how to reintroduce fire to forests. He also mentions how the lack of fire has affected whitebark pine, a species that supports a variety of high mountain flora and fauna, and attributes this to the fact that there is not sufficient fire to eradicate competing species.

H.E. McLean, writing in 1995 in American Forests, covers a handful of relevant topics. These include stating that there is an inherent risk in using prescribed fires because they are subject to the unpredictable forces of nature, but that this risk is acceptable. He discusses the need for prescribed burns in Alaska, due to the state's climate and corresponding slow decomposition rate. In addition, he outlines briefly the role of prescribed burns in Sequoia NP, Yosemite NP, and Stanislaus NF.

Further examples of controlled burning programs and a recap of the issues discussed above are found in other sources. The article "Wildland Fire in Yellowstone" discusses issues pertaining to that park; and M.T. Haynes writing in 2004 in the Salt Lake City Tribute discusses a plan for a substantial controlled burn in Zion NP.

The conclusion from this body of work is that suppression of burning leads to a variety of problems, including the eradication of certain species, and increasing the risk of catastrophic fire. By using controlled or prescribed burns, forest managers can reduce these negative outcomes, for the long-term health of the forests they manage by fostering conditions closer to those that occur in nature. There are a wide range of examples of successful controlled burn programs that can be drawn on for insight and inspiration.

Kilgore, B.M. (1970). Restoring Fire to the Sequoias. National Parks and Conservation Magazine. 44, 16-22. Retrieved on June 15, 2008 at http://www.nps.gov/archive/seki/fire/restore.htm

Kilgore, B.M. (1972). Fire's Role in a Sequoia Forest. Naturalist 23 (1): 26-37, Retrieved June 13, 2008 from www.nps.gov/archive/seki/fire/firerole.htm- 31k