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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Ruby O. Hoyland; Melinda T. McHenry; Erin A. Foster
Publication Date: 2024

Geodiversity elements contribute significantly to local and global hydrological, biogeochemical and ecosystem services and as such, fire is a potentially disruptive force with long-term implications. from limiting karstic speleothems formation, to compounding impacts of peat-fire-erosion cycles. Geodiversity elements additionally possess important cultural, aesthetic, and environmental values, including the support of ecosystem services. Hence, assessments of potential fire damage should consider implications for land users, society, and culture, alongside the geomorphic impacts on geodiversity elements. With a view to providing a concise set of descriptors of the response of geodiversity elements to fire, we qualify and in places, quantify, how fire may degrade geosystem function. Where possible, we highlight the influence of fire intensity and frequency gradients, and cumulative fire, in the deterioration of geodiversity values. Geoconservation is integral to protected areas with implications from fire effected geodiversity functions and values presenting issues for management, with potential consequences extending through to delisting, degazetting, and resizing of protected areas. Future research in reserve systems should concentrate on understanding the synergistic and compounding effects of fire on the geophysical landscape.

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Citation: Hoyland, Ruby O.; McHenry, Melinda T.; Foster, Erin A. 2024. Fire and geodiversity. International Journal of Wildland Fire 33:WF23134.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
International    National    Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest
Keywords:
  • deposition
  • ecosystem services
  • fire management
  • fluvial dynamics
  • geoheritage
  • karst
  • landform effects
  • post-fire impacts
  • soils
  • values
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 69215