'Minimal-impact' restoration treatments have limited effects on forest structure and fuels at Grand Canyon, USA
The authors tested a series of minimal-impact treatments including: (1) thinning of small trees (diameter ? 12.7 cm) and prescribed fire; (2) thinning of small trees located close to large old trees and prescribed fire; (3) prescribed fire only; and (4) control, to determine their effectiveness at reducing hazardous fuels and restoring historic forest conditions.
The authors found minimal changes to forest structure under the thinning treatments. These treatments reduced duff and litter in the understory, but did not affect the canopy significantly. The prescribed fire treatments constituted the greatest treatment impact on future crown fire behavior potential by raising the canopy base height. The thin and burn treatment and prescribed fire only treatment had nearly indistinguishable effects on forest structure, suggesting that resources may be better spent on increasing prescribed fire than on minimal thinning activities.
Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages
The authors found minimal changes to forest structure under the thinning treatments. These treatments reduced duff and litter in the understory, but did not affect the canopy significantly. The prescribed fire treatments constituted the greatest treatment impact on future crown fire behavior potential by raising the canopy base height. The thin and burn treatment and prescribed fire only treatment had nearly indistinguishable effects on forest structure, suggesting that resources may be better spent on increasing prescribed fire than on minimal thinning activities.
The prescribed fire treatments constituted the greatest treatment impact on future crown fire behavior potential by raising the canopy base height. The thin and burn treatment and prescribed fire only treatment had nearly indistinguishable effects on forest structure, suggesting that resources may be better spent on increasing prescribed fire than on minimal thinning activities.
The prescribed fire treatments constituted the greatest treatment impact on future crown fire behavior potential by raising the canopy base height. The thin and burn treatment and prescribed fire only treatment had nearly indistinguishable effects on forest structure, suggesting that resources may be better spent on increasing prescribed fire than on minimal thinning activities.