Western Forests and Climate Change

Climate Change and Western Forests

The World is Burning 

Another Fire Season is upon us. Last year during the height of the worst Fire Season that Montana has endured (with the exception of The Big Burn), I spoke at length with my son who is majoring in Habitat Restoration and Fire Systems at the University of Montana in Missoula.  U of M’s School of Forestry is ranked #4 Nationally.  I am repeating this again for those of you who were unable to read it, and to refresh the memories of those who DID read it.

Overarching Themes/Influences

* Forests and fire continue to be heavily influenced by the build-up of fuels  from between 50- 200 years of fire suppression 

* The predominant Western Forests are composed of Ponderosa Pines. Ponderosa pines rely on a 20 year fire cycle to keep it a Ponderosa forest

* If fire suppression occurs it allows for high humidity and water dependent Douglas Fir to grow. Douglas Fir is NOT a fire cycle dependent tree. It's fire cycle is 100 years. Because Douglas Fir does not have a short fire cycle, a lot of understory fuel build-up occurs, acting as a 'fire ladder'

* Lodgepole pine has dense stands with fire regime at 250-300 years 

* With fire suppression at odds with fire regime, Ponderosa Pine fire regimes are much more out of whack than lodgepole pine forests or Douglas Fir

* As temperatures have risen, and with more summer droughts, forest fires are far more frequent and destructive because of fuel build-up from fire suppression.

* Fire suppression costs money. Moneys are then transferred more and more from forest management to fire suppression, exacerbated even further with overall cuts in Agriculture and Dept. Of the Interior Budgets, none  of which recognize or compensate for geometrical increases in Fire Suppression.

* Furthermore, clearcutting was banned for forest health with the establishment of the EPA in 1972. This was great for overall forest health and habitat protection from mule deer, to birds to fish

* However, because clear cutting had acted as a substitute for fire regimes, this is creating further complications in getting back to natural fire cycles

* The science and research on the interaction of all these conflicting occurrences and exacerbations is still evolving.

* How do you return to a healthy forest?

* Return to natural fire regimes is good, but affects both humans and wildlife at forest intersections.

* How do you resolve conflicting needs, especially when the science on all of this is still emerging?

* Logging roads in some Western Forests are being intentionally destroyed because the culverts, grades, etc. are interfering with watersheds and increasing sedimentation of streams interfering with fish populations who don't tolerate high levels of sedimentation, and many which are already stressed by higher stream temperatures.

* Logging roads, because they increase access by automobiles also allow for introduction of invasive weed species.

* Both weeds and sedimentation impact the very environment which attracts automobile traffic for hunting and fishing. Roads allow access, but also destroy the habitat.

* Thinning/logging further complicates/helps the situation.

*Areas that are clearcut, tend to burn hotter because of slash piles. 

This is just a primer translated by a novice. Hope this improves your understanding of Climate Change and the role that fire is playing and will play in the transition of the tree species in our Western Forests.

This might help.  https://www.firescience.gov/projects/03-1-1-06/project/03-1-1-06_03-1-1-06_mike_ryan_lodgepole_pine_ecology_lp_meeting_granby_sept_2007.pdf

My son understands that this is a complicated and confusing topic. Forests essentially serve conflicting needs. Fire suppression/budget cuts further complicate things. Reduction of EPA funds and personnel and the anti-environmental stance of this current administration will most likely set recovery and management back 30 to 40 years.

My son acknowledges the frustration in all of these conflicting influences. As somebody who is familiar with the cutting edge forestry, fire and habitat management, he also is confused and frustrated.

He understands that people who live in or adjacent to forested lands, whose livelihoods are dependent on these forests must be very frustrated with this new style of Forest Management. This is compounded by the fact that they don’t have the exposure to new research that would explain the changes.  Because there are so many components responsible for increased fire and decreased forest management present, residents are understandably confused and maddened.  Never before have we as a Nation experienced either Climate Change or 150 years of Fire Suppression, and certainly not simultaneously. These are uncharted waters. This is so complex, and affects so many people in different ways, it is easiest to blame the Forest Service as an Agent of the Government. Who else will you get mad at....the trees?

Tarin Ann Vincent 

Copyright July 30, 2017

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