Abstract
Fire regimes in nearly all dry conifer forests in the western United States now vastly differ from past conditions, with many forests susceptible to uncharacteristic high-severity fire effects threatening human communities and degrading forest ecosystems. These forests historically experienced fire frequently, on the order of once every 3 to 30 years. Fires shaped the structure of the forest and the mix of plants. Forest treatments often aim to reduce the severity of future fire and improve the health and resilience of forests. But how do these treatments differ from each other? And how do these treatments change a forest over time?
Keywords
fuel treatments,
wildfire,
thinning,
prescribed burns
Citation
Clark, Nehalem; Leirfallom, Signe; Farrell, Hannah; Battaglia, Mike; Collins, Brandon; Crotteau, Justin; Davis, Kimberley; Fornwalt, Paula; Hessburg, Paul; Hood, Sharon; Knapp, Eric; Moser, Keith; Negron, Jose. 2024. What do we know about forest treatments and fire? Photos and long-term studies help us understand. Science You Can Use In Photos. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 28 p.
