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Periodic forest fires definitely seem more healthy for forest ecologies than logging, since they reduce potential fuel and return nutrients to the area. Loggin
by wavefunction 9y ago
Periodic forest fires definitely seem more healthy for forest ecologies than logging, since they reduce potential fuel and return nutrients to the area. Logging or large forest-fires means significant deforestation/defloration leading to erosion.
We should be managing our lands with more controlled burns to periodically reduce the fuel load so a huge unmanageable natural forest fire doesn't break out.
Plus some species require forest fires, like ponderosa pine whose pine cones will only open to release their seeds from the heat of a forest fire.
- snerbles 9y agoSure, if the area is clear-cut and not replanted. It wouldn't be good for business if there weren't any more trees to log a few decades from now. Believe it or not, we do think long-term in the timber industry ;) Controlled burns often accompany harvest operations to return nutrients to the soil. > Plus some species require forest fires, like ponderosa pine whose pine cones will only open to release their seeds from the heat of a forest fire. Not the Ponderosa Pine. You are probably thinking of the Lodgepole Pine and Knobcone Pine.
- soperj 9y agoWhy do you say not the Ponderosa?
- snerbles 9y agoI asked a forester. Admittedly this is not the best response for a pseudonymous internet forum. Further searching for links on serotinous (externally triggered) cones turn up sources that almost all refer to the Lodgepole Pine [0]. Also note that these trees have both serotinous and non-serotinous cones - they can still reproduce without the presence of fire, albeit at a lesser rate. That being said, the Ponderosa is fire-resistant, and will survive typical non-crowning fires. [0] https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinconl/all.html#REGENERATION%20PROCESSES https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinconl/all....