Restoration is an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability. / Rehabilitation is the activities necessary to repair damage or disturbance caused by wildfire or the wildfire suppression activity. (Society for Ecological Restoration / National Wildfire Coordinating Group /Fire Research And Management Exchange System))

Background: Postfire rehabilitation, or postfire emergency stabilization, refers to the emergency measures taken to mitigate potential increases in runoff and erosion that can occur immediately after a wildfire. Efforts are often made to protect valuable resources, such as water quality, fragile habitat, houses, roads, and bridges, from the increased risk of flooding, debris flows, and sedimentation. Selected hillslope, channel, and road treatments are usually applied within weeks after a fire and maintained for 1-3 years during the fire recovery period.

Postfire restoration generally refers to the long-term efforts to restore habitat quality, resilience, and productivity. It includes activities such as tree planting, noxious weed control, fuel reduction, and riparian restoration.

*Exerpt From: Robichaud, Peter R. 2005. Wildland Fire Rehabilitation and Restoration. In: The Forest Encyclopedia Network. http://www.forestencyclopedia.net, Encyclopedia Identification: 68051. [Date accessed: July 18, 2005].