U.S. Joint Fire Science Program

 

Date of this Version

2009

Document Type

Article

Citation

Final Report JFSP Project: 04-2-1-33

Comments

US government work.

Abstract

The Piedmont Region of South Carolina experienced one of the heaviest attacks of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm.) in history during the early part of this decade. Managers with both commercial objectives and restoration objectives needed information on how prescribed burning or mechanical treatments can be used to reduce the heavy fuels resulting from these attacks, without neglecting their primary management objectives. Prescribed burning is of concern because intensities are expected to be high and fires may damage soils, neighboring trees, or target vegetation. Methods of predicting fire behavior and fuel consumption are unavailable. Mechanical treatments will reduce fuels but are expensive and may not control vegetation that would out-compete planted pines, oak sprouts, or other target vegetation.

Share

COinS