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Maximizing Vegetation Response on Management Burns by Identifying Fire Regimes 1
| Content Provider | CiteSeerX |
|---|---|
| Author | Parker, V. Thomas |
| Abstract | Abstract: Maintenance of vegetation is a central goal of watershed management. When prescribed burning of chaparral is included in management practice, then it is important for managers to understand and use the natural chaparral fire regime to maximize vegetation response. Variations from the natural fire regime in intensity, frequency, season, and environmental conditions at the time of burning can all have substantial effects. These factors interact differently with the species that comprise chaparral. This paper focusses on the variation in responses of different groups of chaparral species to changes in fire regime. Prescribed burning often has been used to reduce fuel loads to meet fire safety objectives. An assumption inherent in this type of management is that prescribed burning reduces the likelihood of a wildfire yet has little net effect on the vegetation, which is basically true for many species and communities. One exception, however, is California chaparral, widely recognized as a fire-type vegetation. Chaparral tolerates burning only under certain conditions at limited times of the year. Under other conditions or times, the recovery of chaparral following prescribed burning can be limited. Particular types of species are most sensitive and several environmental conditions appear to exert the most influence on recovery. My objective in this paper is to illustrate these vegetation and environmental characteristics. Only after a careful consideration of these factors can managers hope to maximize the response of their vegetation. Overall watershed management involves not only short-term objectives like fuel reduction, but also, the long-term objective of maintaining the health of the vegetation. The health of the vegetation depends upon species diversity as well as ensuring vegetation recovery. Many chaparral dominants in the genera Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus, for example, are usually killed in fires and are greatly reduced in regeneration following most prescribed burns (Parker 1987b). Twenty species of these two genera, furthermore, |
| File Format | |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Natural Chaparral Fire Regime Fuel Reduction Fire-type Vegetation Vegetation Recovery Chaparral Specie Assumption Inherent Many Specie Management Burn Substantial Effect Many Chaparral Dominant Certain Condition Prescribed Burning Several Environmental Condition Limited Time Genus Arctostaphylos Different Group Prescribed Burn Little Net Effect Central Goal Management Practice Specie Diversity Twenty Specie Vegetation Response Long-term Objective Environmental Characteristic Short-term Objective Fuel Load Environmental Condition Particular Type Careful Consideration Watershed Management Natural Fire Regime Fire Regime Identifying Fire Regime Fire Safety Objective Chaparral Tolerates |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
