Forest Fire-Mitigation Project Examples ?

[Deb Phenicie]

Are there any examples of completed forest fire-mitigation projects that utilize strategies that retain biomass to rehydrate land - especially any that have monitored results (or have some before/after documentation)?

Particularly examples that would have similarities to mixed-conifer forests in the western US would be helpful. (Not approaches for urban areas as being discussed in the Boulder Initiative thread).

I’d like to put together some information that describes an alternative strategy (to conventional approaches) that utilizes biomass on-site to rehydrate the land rather than removing biomass. I have a contact that advises local agencies on fire mitigation (located in the Colorado Front Range foothills west of Denver). I think he might be open to considering alternatives (and maybe the opportunity for a demo project). I’d like to compile some compelling information to present. I have some ideas on an approach (that would be tailored to site-specific conditions) and also want to consider what others have done.

Anyone interested in collaborating?

Anastassia, thank you for sharing the publication (https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1492) presenting information that increased amounts of biomass and fuel loading in mixed-conifer forests in the western US did not correspond to higher fire severity - and actually had lower severity values. 

- Very pertinent information and much appreciated !!

[Jon Schull]

Michal's project in Slovakia, I think.  https://groups.google.com/g/ecorestoration-alliance/c/9dyYA0Ou4m4/m/eL813y8FBQAJ

[Russ Speer]

Deb,

Please reach out to Regina Hirsh at Watershed Progressive. Regina can probably provide you with some pertinent information. 

Best, 

Russ 

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[Frutig Roland]

Dear all

Yesterday's webinar brought together more than 400 doers and interested people form all over the world. I guess all differnt climate zones of the world were represented. Congrats for that and the content as it shows how we can spread the spice fairly easy if somebody takes the lead. 

John Roulac thanks for initiating this webinar; being a member of the organizing institution: could you share the contact addresses of the participants? It's a unique opportunity to get in touch with a large number of people and have an exchange among doers/implementers, who are an important source of inspiration and mobilization. I guess it is in the interest of all partizipants to get connected. I'll be pleased if we can improve the contacts and exchanges as we both work in Africa.

Natalia Topa: great to see your work and congrats. In Malawi we are just starting combining watershed development and agroforestry. I have accompanied watershed development projects in India for over 15 years and the contour line aspects are part of this work. A combination is really interesting under whichever name we may do it. Would be great to intensify the exchange.

These webinars are a good approach to share experiences and spread the news and informations. I think that all these efforts shown from different people under different climate conditions are somehow in line with and contribute to the aspects Michal, Anastassia and many others are stressing from the big picture. 

Thank you so much for all these amazing infos we are getting through our alliance. 

Best regards

Roland

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[Michal Kravčík]

Hi Deb, 

Here is couple picture after fire forest in Tatra National Park in Slovakia (2005) and after rehydratation (2008) with scientists from Germany and from last Year (2021). 

Michal 

st 26. 1. 2022 o 2:40 Russ Speer <spee...@gmail.com> napísal(a):

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[Anastassia Makarieva]

Impressive pictures!

In comparison, this is a spot in the Sumava Mountains (where Austria, Germany and Czech Republic border): tree stands attacked by the bark beetle. No rehydration was made, and there is practically no forest recovery in over 20 years (the small green trees that can be seen were born before the calamity; they don't grow well). Picture taken in October 2021 during our trip with Jan Pokorny. In summer, the surface temperatures reach 70 degC at full exposure.

When a forest has long been disturbed, including prescribed fires, it cannot overnight become pristine and capable of moisture regulation. Careful ecosystem medicine is required.

Anastassia

ср, 26 янв. 2022 г. в 12:04, Michal Kravčík <kravcik...@gmail.com>:

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[Jan Pokorný]

Thanks Anastassia

I confirm what Anastassia clearly described.

Just an additional comment: mountain spruce forest is natural despite consisting mostly of one species (Picea abies, Norway spruce). It is the tree species reaching tree line and growing/reproducing  well in high altitude with long winter and short vegetation season. Some individuals were 300 years old

Best regards

Jan  

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[Anastassia Makarieva]

Dear Deb,

I think these two publications may also be relevant

https://www.pnas.org/content/104/25/10743

"Debate over the influence of postwildfire management on future fire severity is occurring in the absence of empirical studies. We used satellite data, government agency records, and aerial photography to examine a forest landscape in southwest Oregon that burned in 1987 and then was subject, in part, to salvage-logging and conifer planting before it reburned during the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Areas that burned severely in 1987 tended to reburn at high severity in 2002, after controlling for the influence of several topographical and biophysical covariates. Areas unaffected by the initial fire tended to burn at the lowest severities in 2002. Areas that were salvage-logged and planted after the initial fire burned more severely than comparable unmanaged areas, suggesting that fuel conditions in conifer plantations can increase fire severity despite removal of large woody fuels."

and  https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41559-018-0490-x

  
"Degraded forests also have increased risk of, and susceptibility to, natural disturbances such as fire, as forests are drier along their edges118. There is clear evidence that forests that are logged are at high risk of burning at uncharacteristically high severity119, with an elevated fire proneness lasting for decades120. Degraded forests are also at higher risk from invasion by exotic invasive species18 when compared with non-degraded forests. With fire frequency in many forest areas predicted to increase under climate change scenarios121–123, intact forests might become refuges from fire in many landscapes where degraded forests burn too frequently to support the persistence of plant and animal communities dependent on old forests. This cascade of damage, referred to as a ‘landscape trap’124, is becoming more common and many forests are now subject to repeated disturbances that lock them in early successional states."

"Landscape trap" -- this is where we got in many regions

I think that among the authors of these papers one could find supporters of the rehydrating forests initiatives.

 

Best wishes,

Anastassia

ср, 26 янв. 2022 г. в 03:58, Deb Phenicie <D...@yourearthsolutions.com>:

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[Deb Phenicie]

Thanks to everyone for sharing - the publications and pictures!

The publications are certainly relevant - thank you!

The photos are great - showing what hydration can do versus none.

I’d like also to find some examples (with explanations of strategy used) for pre-fire mitigation.

I apologize for not clarifying this in my original post, but I appreciate the post-fire examples as well.

A lot of pre-fire mitigation efforts (in Colorado) are being conducted on intact forest areas (and residential properties in forests) to reduce risk of fire and/or fire severity. This “pre-fire mitigation” is done by removing all or most of the biomass and fuel loading. In addition, when heavy equipment is used to complete the work the soil gets compacted and creates even more issues. 

I’d like to propose an alternative to these pre-fire mitigation strategies that contribute to further dehydration.

Thank you!!

Deb

____________________
Deb Phenicie
Renew Land and Water
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[DUSAN TRAVNICEK]

@Deb

Here is some video with Michal’s work

(Warning: Volume too high, we are amateurs:) ) https://fb.watch/aNo9WZ1i6a/

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[Russ Speer]

GREAT VIDEO  !!!!

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[Deb Phenicie]

Great video - Thank you!

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[Deb Phenicie]

The conventional and widely-applied approach to forest mitigation in the USA (pre-fire to reduce fire risk and severity) is to remove biomass and fuel loading - completely stripping the forest floor of biomass and thinning and de-limbing trees to remove ladder fuels. 

One explanation given for this approach is that historical fire suppression has resulted in too much biomass and fuels that cause forests to burn hotter, spread faster, and increase severity. 

Is there any evidence that this assumption is valid?

-any studies or research that would support these assumptions?

The publications that Anastassia shared are excellent support for why biomass is not the culprit. 

I’d like to find out if there’s any valid basis for the mainstream assumption and insistence on removal of biomass.

Thank you!

Deb

On Jan 26, 2022, at 7:34 AM, Anastassia Makarieva <ammak...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Agile49]

I found "Smokescreen" by Chad T Hanson revealing in this respect. Lots of references to support the notion that fuel-load reduction is part of the problem, not part of the solution and that some studies sponsored by USA Forest Service that show otherwise (that fuel load reduction and thinning are a good thing) are compromised due to Forest Service arrangement that it can keep the income arising from timber harvested under fuel reduction and thinning 'logics'.

Also the book spends a lot of effort on calling for diverse mosaics of burnt over areas of old growth (snag forest) adjacent to intact areas as this then provides a 'bed and breakfast' habitat complex that allows for wildlife to nest and rest in intact forest and forage in snag forest which is generally far richer in terms of insect life …

Worth a read if a little repetitive ... 

Andrew Langford, M.Sc. DMS. Dip Perm Des. 
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[Jon Schull]

https://vimeo.com/391991020

Jehne fire vs fungi 

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[Deb Phenicie]

Thank you. Sounds like this will be a great resource!

On Feb 11, 2022, at 2:18 PM, Agile49 <and...@gaiauniversity.org> wrote:

I found "Smokescreen" by Chad T Hanson revealing in this respect. Lots of references to support the notion that fuel-load reduction is part of the problem, not part of the solution and that some studies sponsored by USA Forest Service that show otherwise (that fuel load reduction and thinning are a good thing) are compromised due to Forest Service arrangement that it can keep the income arising from timber harvested under fuel reduction and thinning 'logics'.

Also the book spends a lot of effort on calling for diverse mosaics of burnt over areas of old growth (snag forest) adjacent to intact areas as this then provides a 'bed and breakfast' habitat complex that allows for wildlife to nest and rest in intact forest and forage in snag forest which is generally far richer in terms of insect life …

Worth a read if a little repetitive ... 

Andrew Langford, M.Sc. DMS. Dip Perm Des. 
Joint Founder and President 

+52 739 395 5025 (Mexico)

Time Zone: Mexico City
+1 805 610 0899 (USA cell & WhatsApp)
+ 44 (0)117 230 0688 (UK)
and...@gaiauniversity.org

<2015-Gaia U Logo w website 600.png>

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