Ecosystem Disturbance and Prescribed Burning

Ecosystem Disturbance

• Fire is a natural disturbance that shapes ecosystem structure and function
• Fire can alter:
  • Vegetation composition and density
  • Soil chemistry and nutrient cycling
  • Wildlife habitats and populations
  • Hydrologic processes and water quality
• Fire disturbance can have both positive and negative effects on ecosystems, depending on the context and frequency

Prescribed Burning

• A management tool used to mimic natural fire regimes
• Involves intentionally igniting fires in fire-prone ecosystems to:
  • Reduce fuel loads and mitigate risk of catastrophic wildfires
  • Promote ecosystem health and resilience
  • Maintain or restore fire-dependent ecosystem processes
• Prescribed burning can be used to:
  • Reduce wildfire risk and protect human communities
  • Improve habitat quality and biodiversity
  • Enhance ecosystem services (e.g., carbon sequestration, water filtration)

Fire Regimes

• A fire regime refers to the frequency, severity, and seasonality of fires in a given ecosystem
• Fire regimes can be:
  • Frequent, low-severity fires (e.g., grasslands)
  • Infrequent, high-severity fires (e.g., old-growth forests)
  • Mixed, with varying frequencies and severities
• Fire regimes are influenced by:
  • Climate and weather patterns
  • Vegetation type and fuel loads
  • Topography and land use

Wildland Fire Management

• Involves a range of strategies and tactics to manage wildfires and fire-prone ecosystems
• Goals of wildland fire management include:
  • Protecting human life and property
  • Maintaining ecosystem health and resilience
  • Reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires
• Wildland fire management approaches can include:
  • Fire suppression and containment
  • Prescribed burning and fuel management
  • Fire use modules and wildland fire use
  • Collaborative planning and stakeholder engagement

Ecosystem Disturbance

• Fire is a natural disturbance that affects ecosystem structure and function
• Fire alters vegetation composition and density, soil chemistry and nutrient cycling, wildlife habitats and populations, and hydrologic processes and water quality
• Fire disturbance has both positive and negative effects on ecosystems, depending on context and frequency

Prescribed Burning

• A management tool that mimics natural fire regimes
• Intentional ignition of fires in fire-prone ecosystems to reduce fuel loads, promote ecosystem health, and maintain fire-dependent processes
• Prescribed burning reduces wildfire risk and protects human communities, improves habitat quality and biodiversity, and enhances ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and water filtration

Fire Regimes

• Fire regime refers to the frequency, severity, and seasonality of fires in an ecosystem
• Fire regimes can be frequent and low-severity (e.g., grasslands), infrequent and high-severity (e.g., old-growth forests), or mixed
• Climate, vegetation, and topography influence fire regimes

Wildland Fire Management

• Manages wildfires and fire-prone ecosystems using various strategies and tactics
• Goals include protecting human life and property, maintaining ecosystem health, and reducing catastrophic wildfire risk
• Approaches include fire suppression, prescribed burning, fire use modules, and collaborative planning