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Author(s):
Daniel C. Donato, Joseph B. Fontaine, John L. Campbell, William D. Robinson, J. Boone Kauffman, Beverly E. Law
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Hot Topic(s):
Fuel Treatment Effectiveness, Post-fire Salvage Logging, Post-fire Tree Regeneration
Topic(s):
Post-fire Management
Salvage Logging

NRFSN number: 17443
FRAMES RCS number: 3926
Record updated:

We present data from a study of early conifer regeneration and fuel loads after the 2002 Biscuit Fire, Oregon, USA, with and without postfire logging. Natural conifer regeneration was abundant after the high-severity fire. Postfire logging reduced median regeneration density by 71%, significantly increased downed woody fuels, and thus increased short-term fire risk. Additional reduction of fuels is necessary for effective mitigation of fire risk. Postfire logging can be counterproductive to the goals of forest regenration and fuel reduction.

Citation

Donato, Daniel C.; Fontaine, Joseph B.; Campbell, John L.; Robinson, William D.; Kauffman, J.B.; Law, Beverly E. 2006. Post-wildfire logging hinders regeneration and increases fire risk. Science 311 (5759): 352-352. DOI: 10.1126/science.1122855

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