Submitted by Rob York on
High severity wildfire is an increasingly prevalent problem in California forests today. Young stands are considered particularly vulnerable. Hence there is great interest in increasing their resistance and resilience to wildfire. One potential method is prescribed burning in young stands to reduce fuel loadings. However, experimental burning of young forests has only recently been attempted. We still do not understand the basic factors of prescribed fire-related tree mortality. We are therefore not able to prioritize treatments that may be done in order to make prescribed burning more feasible at larger scales. This project seeks to investigate the trade-offs and effects of various pre-fire mechanical treatments (pre-commercial thin and leave, pre-commercial thin and leave, and mastication) in young plantations implemented prior to prescribed burning. We will model the effects of these treatments on tree survival, fuel consumption, and tree growth.
Undergraduate Role:
- Collect in field data on trees, shrubs, and fuels
- Data analysis with appropriate software
- With training, assist in conducing prescribed burns in young stands which includes
- Firing with drop torch
- Line construction and holding with hand tools
Undergraduate Qualifications:
- Knowledge of vegetation measurement techniques, including the use of associated tools
- Taken classes in forestry, natural resource management, or relate fields
- Interest in forest management and fire ecology
- Ability to perform physical work in field in potential adverse weather conditions
- Willing to work on several weekends