Simulating the impacts of future fire regimes and fire managementstrategies on vegetation and fuel dynamics in western Canadausing a boreal fire effects model (BORFIRE)

摘要

The long-term effects of different fire management strategies on boreal forest composition and fuels under future fire regimes were studied in four National Parks in western Canada using a boreal fire effects model. Longer fire cycles caused by increased fire suppression resulted in greater fuel accumulation and a general increase in fire behaviour. Long fire cycles favoured Picea glauca, Picea mariana and Abies balsamea, three highly flammable tree species. Shorter fire cycles established by prescribed burning decreased fuel load and fire behaviour. Pinus banksiana and Picea mariana stands survived under shorter fire cycles, but Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera were greatly favoured, mostly at the expense of declining Picea glauca. A shift in forest composition towards low flammability species such as Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera would cause a general decrease in landscape fire danger.