Long fire cycle in northern boreal Pinus forests in Finnish Lapland

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 2027-2035 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Wallenius ◽  
H. Kauhanen ◽  
H. Herva ◽  
J. Pennanen
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Fire Scars ◽  
Fire Cycle ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Finnish Lapland ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Management Plans

Knowledge of past forest fire regimes is important for developing management plans for conservation areas and for predicting the probable effects of forest management and climate change on the structure and dynamics of forests. In this study, fire scars on living and dead trees were systematically sampled on 256 study plots in three landscapes in northeastern Finland dominated by Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.). A total of 1030 disks or partial cross sections from different trees, including scars from 98 distinct forest fires, were dendrochronologically dated with an accuracy of 1 year or better. The extraordinarily well-preserved old Pinus snags and stumps allowed us to reconstruct annual tree-ring and fire chronologies beginning from the year AD 653. The fire cycles in the studied landscapes were exceptionally long for a boreal region dominated by Pinus, on average 350 years during the last millennium. This demonstrates that the fire regimes of poorly studied remote regions cannot be extrapolated from fire regimes of sites examined in more detail. Based on statistics on lightning-ignition densities, we suggest that most of the fires detected in this study were ignited by humans. The reconstructed past fire cycles were probably shortened by human influence.

Forest fires in the Muddus National Park (northern Sweden) during the past 600 years

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 893-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola Engelmark
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
National Park ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Fire Scars ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Park Area

The occurrence of forest fires in the Muddus National Park (area, 50 000 ha), just north of the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden, was investigated on 75 separate sample plots. Between 1413 and the present, evidence of 47 fire years was obtained by dating the fire scars on living Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris), the oldest of which had germinated in 1274. The fire traces found on the sample plots were fire scars on living or dead trees or charcoal fragments in the humus layer. Plots lacking all traces of former forest fires were mainly those situated on sites surrounded by extensive mires. Forest fires were shown to have occurred in the five different types of forest investigated. The commonest frequencies of fires in the pine forests occurred with the interval 81–90 years, while the mean frequency was 110 years. The mean interval of time elapsed since the last forest fire occurred in the pine forests was 144 years. Some of the major fire years in the Muddus area coincide with forest fires in other parts of northern Sweden, in the taiga of western Russia, and in central Siberia.

Strong anthropogenic signals in historic forest fire regime: a detailed spatiotemporal case study from south-central Norway

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 836-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Olaf Storaunet ◽  
Jørund Rolstad ◽  
Målfrid Toeneiet ◽  
Ylva-li Blanck
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Fire Scars ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Slash And Burn ◽  
South Central

To better understand the historic range of variability in the fire regime of Fennoscandian boreal forests we cross-dated 736 fire scars of remnant Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood samples in a 3.6 km2 section of the Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell Reserve of south-central Norway. Using a kernel range application in GIS we spatially delineated 57 individual forest fires between 1350 and the present. We found a strong anthropogenic signal in the fire regime from 1600 and onwards: (i) infrequent variably sized fires prior to 1600 shifted to frequent fires gradually decreasing in size during the 1600s and 1700s, with only a few small fires after 1800; (ii) time intervals between fires and the hazard of burning showed substantial differences pre- and post-1600; (iii) fire seasonality changed from late- to early-season fires from the 1626 fire and onwards; and (iv) fire severity decreased gradually over time. Written sources corroborated our results, narrating a history where anthropogenic forest fires and slash-and-burn cultivation expanded with the increasing population from the late 1500s. Concurrently, timber resources increased in value, gradually forcing slash-and-burn cultivators to abandon fires on forest land. Our results strengthen and expand previous Fennoscandian findings on the anthropogenic influence of historic fire regimes.

An experimental evaluation of fire history reconstruction using dendrochronology in white oak (Quercus alba)

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 806-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan W. McEwan ◽  
Todd F. Hutchinson ◽  
Robert D. Ford ◽  
Brian C. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Fire Scars ◽  
Treatment Unit ◽  
Dendrochronological Analysis

Dendrochronological analysis of fire scars on tree cross sections has been critically important for understanding historical fire regimes and has influenced forest management practices. Despite its value as a tool for understanding historical ecosystems, tree-ring-based fire history reconstruction has rarely been experimentally evaluated. To examine the efficacy of dendrochronological analysis for detecting fire occurrence in oak forests, we analyzed tree cross sections from sites in which prescribed fires had been recently conducted. The first fire in each treatment unit created a scar in at least one sample, but the overall percentage of samples containing scars in fire years was low (12%). We found that scars were created by 10 of the 15 prescribed fires, and the five undetected fires all occurred in sites where fire had occurred the previous year. Notably, several samples contained scars from known fire-free periods. In summary, our data suggest that tree-ring analysis is a generally effective tool for reconstructing historical fire regimes, although the following points of uncertainty were highlighted: (i) consecutive annual burns may not create fire scars and (ii) wounds that are morphologically indistinguishable from fire scars may originate from nonfire sources.

Neutron diffraction, inelastic scattering and the structure of amphiphiles and macromolecules in solution

1975 ◽  
Vol 345 (1640) ◽  
pp. 119-144 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Diffraction ◽  
Inelastic Scattering ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Biological Molecules ◽  
Variation Method ◽  
Contrast Variation ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Spin Resonance ◽  
Scattering Lengths ◽  
Scattering Cross Sections

The methods by which neutron diffraction and inelastic scattering may be used to study the structure and dynamics of solutions are reviewed, with particular reference to solutions of amphiphile and biological molecules in water. Neutron methods have particular power because the scattering lengths for protons and deuterons are of opposite sign, and hence there exists the possibility of obtaining variable contrast between the scattering of the aqueous medium and the molecules in it. In addition, the contrast variation method is also applicable to inelastic scattering studies whereby the dynamics of one component of the solution can be preferentially studied due to large and variable differences in the scattering cross sections. Both applications of contrast variation are illustrated with examples of amphiphile-water lamellar mesophases, diffraction from collagen, viruses, and polymer solutions. Inelastic scattering observations and the dynamics of water between the lamellar sheets allow microscopic measurements of the water diffusion along and perpendicular to the layers. The information obtained is complementary to that from nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance studies of diffusion.

scholarly journals Financial Feasibility of Investing in Smallholder Cow-Calf Cooperatives in Baluran National Park

Agro Ekonomi ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Mark Rademaker ◽  
Any Suryantini ◽  
Jangkung Handoyo Mulyo
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Discounted Cash Flow ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
The Government

Livestock grazing is a major driver of human-wildlife confl ict in conservation areas. Currently, it is estimated that 3000 heads of cattle illegally grazing within Baluran National Park (BNP) in East Java. The recent research has suggested the potential of livestock system intensifi cation to reduce land-use and conflict through conservation priorities. The research goal was to investigate the fi nancial feasibility of starting intensive cow-calf cooperatives by smallholders in the BNP area. Data were collected using Farm surveys in a Criterion sampling design. Optimal herd management plans were generated using whole farm Linear Programming and fi nancial feasibility was assessed using Discounted cash-flow analysis and debt-servicing capabilities. Investment lifetime was set at 15 years and four alternative varieties of cattle were taken from Bali, Peranakan Ongole, Limousin and Simmental. Results show that investing in all varieties represents a positive investment opportunity. Bali cattle obtaining the highest NPV ($53.769), IRR (14,25%) and B/C ratio (1,13). Farmer income can be increased by 163% by combining additional Off-farm labor. However, debt servicing capabilities of cow-calf cooperative activities showed that the loan principal can only be repaid in the 10th year instead of the maximum eight years set by the government cow-calf credit scheme. We urge the government to reconsider either the grace period or the repayment time of the credit scheme to better fit the cash-fl ow characteristics of cow-calf enterprises.

scholarly journals Zakour Forest fire risk map assessment in the commune of Mamounia (Mascara, Algeria)

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-35
Author(s):  
Djamel Anteur ◽  
Abdelkrim Benaradj ◽  
Youcef Fekir ◽  
Djillali Baghdadi
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Risk Map ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
The City ◽  
Forest Fire Risk

Abstract The great forest of Zakour is located north of the commune of Mamounia (department of Mascara). It is considered the lung of the city of Mascara, covers an area of 126.8 ha. It is a forest that is subject to several natural and human constraints. Among them, the fires are a major danger because of their impacts on forest ecosystems. The purpose of this work is to develop a fire risk map of the Zakour Forest through the contribution of geomatics according to natural and anthropogenic conditions (human activities, agglomeration, agricultural land) while integrating information from ground on the physiognomy of the vegetation. For this, the creation of a clearer fire risk map to delimit the zones potentially sensitive to forest fires in the forest area of Zakour. This then allows good implementation of detection management plans, for better prevention and decision-making assistance in protecting and fighting forest fires.

scholarly journals Identification of land cover changes before and after forest and land fires in conservation areas of North Sumatra, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 912 (1) ◽  
pp. 012026
Author(s):  
A S Thoha ◽  
N Sulistiyono ◽  
N Saraswita ◽  
D Wiranata ◽  
S M Sirait ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Land Cover Changes ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Field Verification ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Wildlife Reserve ◽  
North Sumatra

Abstract Damage to conservation areas in North Sumatra can be mitigated by understanding the pattern of land cover change, which can be performed by detecting hotspots and their temporal and spatial patterns. This study aimed to explore land cover spatially and temporally before and after forest fires in the conservation areas in North Sumatra. Data on the hotspots, satellite imagery, land cover maps, and field verification were used to see the transition of land cover changes before and after forest and land fires. Temporal and spatial analysis was employed to see the trend of land cover changes of the land before and after the fires. Field verification was conducted through observations and interviews related to land cover conditions in the field caused by forest and land fires. This study found three conservation areas with the highest number of hotspots in 2014 in the period 2001-2019, including Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP), Dolok Surungan Wildlife Reserve, and Barumun Wildlife Reserve during the 2001-2019 period. In 2010 and 2014 there were strong indications of a large area of land burning in three conservation areas. The burned land was near the outer boundary of the conservation areas and continued to expand into the areas over time. The area of the non-forest cover was relatively stable between periods prior to the discovery of several hotspots. Changes in forest cover to non-forest have become more widespread after the highest number of hotspots were detected in 2010. Conservation area management and various parties need to prevent the expansion of forest clearing considering the strategic role especially in GNLP as a world heritage.

scholarly journals Forest Fire Regime in a Mediterranean Ecosystem: Unraveling the Mutual Interrelations between Rainfall Seasonality, Soil Moisture, Drought Persistence, and Biomass Dynamics

Fire ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Nunzio Romano ◽  
Nadia Ursino
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Rainfall Frequency

Frequent and severe droughts typically intensify wildfires provided that there is enough fuel in situ. The extent to which climate change may influence the fire regime and long time-scale hydrological processes may soften the effect of inter-annual climate change and, more specifically, whether soil-water retention capacity can alleviate the harsh conditions resulting from droughts and affect fire regimes, are still largely unexplored matters. The research presented in this paper is a development of a previous investigation and shows in what way, and to what extent, rainfall frequency, dry season length, and hydraulic response of different soil types drive forest fires toward different regimes while taking into consideration the typical seasonality of the Mediterranean climate. The soil-water holding capacity, which facilitates biomass growth in between fire events and hence favors fuel production, may worsen the fire regime as long dry summers become more frequent, such that the ecosystem’s resilience to climate shifts may eventually be undermined.

scholarly journals Translating Fire Impacts in Southwestern Amazonia into Economic Costs

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Campanharo ◽  
Aline Lopes ◽  
Liana Anderson ◽  
Thiago da Silva ◽  
Luiz Aragão
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Fire Dynamics ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Burned Areas

Between 1998 and 2017, climate-related disasters represented 91% of all occurrences worldwide, causing approximately US$ 2.245 billion of direct economic losses. In the Amazon region, fire is used as a widely spread technique for land clearing, agricultural management, hunting, and religious rituals. However, over the past 20 years, severe droughts caused a major amplification of fire occurrences, leading to several socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Particularly in Acre state, located in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon, the occurrence of extensive fires, associated with extreme climatic events, has been reported since 2005. However, fire dynamics, land tenure relationships, and associated impacts are poorly quantified. In this study, we aim to investigate the following: (1) The spatiotemporal variability of fire dynamics during anomalously dry and regular climate conditions; (2) the attribution of fire occurrence and land tenure relationship, and (3) the environmental, social, and economic impacts caused by fires and its consequences for Acre’s economy. We analyzed information on the spatial patterns of fire, its direct impacts on land use and land cover, carbon stocks, CO2 emissions, the indirect impact on human illness, and finally the costs of these impacts from 2008 to 2012. During the studied period, burned areas were concentrated around the major cities and roads, forming polygons up to 0.6 km2. However, in 2010, an extremely dry year, fires spread to remote areas, impacting protected private areas and sustainable-use conservation areas. In 2010, the total area affected by forest fires was approximately 16 times greater than in meteorologically normal years. The total economic loss estimated in 2010 was around US$ 243.36 ± 85.05 million and for the entire period, US$ 307.46 ± 85.41 million. These values represent 7.03 ± 2.45% and 9.07 ± 2.46% of Acre’s gross domestic product (GDP), respectively.

Declining fires in Larix-dominated forests in northern Irkutsk district

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuomo Wallenius ◽  
Markku Larjavaara ◽  
Juha Heikkinen ◽  
Olga Shibistova
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fire History ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Tree Ring Chronology ◽  
Fire Cycle ◽  
History Of ◽  
Historical Accounts ◽  
Additional Explanation

To study the poorly known fire history of Larix-dominated forest in central Siberia, we collected samples from 200 trees in 46 systematically located study plots. Our study area stretches ~90 km from north to south along the River Nizhnyaya Tunguska in northern Irkustk district. Cross-dated tree-ring chronology for all samples combined extended from the year 1360 AD to the present and included 76 fire years and 88 separate fire events. Average fire cycle gradually lengthened from 52 years in the 18th century to 164 years in the 20th century. During the same time, the number of recorded fires decreased even more steeply, i.e. by more than 85%. Fires were more numerous but smaller in the past. Contrary to expectations, climate change in the 20th century has not resulted in increased forest fires in this region. Fire suppression may have contributed to the scarcity of fires since the 1950s. However, a significant decline in fires was evident earlier; therefore an additional explanation is required, a reduction in human-caused ignitions being likely in the light of historical accounts.

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