An optimal firebreak design for the boreal forest of China

Zong, Xie; Tian, Xin; Wang, Xianli

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146822

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…At larger scales, optimizing fuel break networks requires some understanding of how changing network density (km/km 2 ) versus the width of the individual fuel break segments affects network cost and effectiveness. In one recent simulation study in boreal forests it was concluded that for a given total treated area, higher density networks at narrow widths were more effective at reducing burn probability than lower density, wider networks widths [4], consistent with prior findings [21,23].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Methods and models to design, prioritize and evaluate fuel break networks have potential global application where major increases in fuel management investments are planned in response to a growing incidence of wildfires. Proposals to build new and expand existing linear fuel breaks networks (FBN) have emerged as part of several national initiatives in the US and elsewhere [1][2][3][4] in response to wildland fire events that are increasingly challenging the efficiency of suppression operations and causing tragic loss of human life [5][6][7][8][9]. Here, we distinguish FBNs as a subset of many alternative spatial treatment strategies where segments of reduced fuel loadings are interconnected to create a network, and are typically built on a core of existing roads to minimize cost and maximize fire control, ingress, egress and safety [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Application of FBN strategies spans diverse fire regimes and underlying fuel types ranging from grass, shrub steppe, Mediterranean shrub, pine plantations, and boreal forests [4,10,[18][19][20][21][22]. For instance, US federal land management agencies are implementing 17,700 km of fuel breaks on 90 million ha in the western US to manage the invasive grass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe, where fire is increasingly threatening habitat for the endangered sage grouse [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimizing the implementation of a forest fuel break network

Ager,

Day,

Aparício

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Methods and models to design, prioritize and evaluate fuel break networks have potential application in many fire-prone ecosystems where major increases in fuel management investments are planned in response to growing incidence of wildfires. A key question facing managers is how to scale treatments into manageable project areas that meet operational and administrative constraints, and then prioritize their implementation over time to maximize fire management outcomes. We developed and tested a spatial modeling system to optimize the implementation of a proposed 3,538 km fuel break network and explore tradeoffs between two implementation strategies on a 0.5 million ha national forest in the western US. We segmented the network into 2,766 treatment units and used a spatial optimization model to compare linear versus radial project implementation geometries. We hypothesized that linear projects were more efficient at intercepting individual fire events over larger spatial domains, whereas radial projects conferred a higher level of network redundancy in terms of the length of the fuel break exposed to fires. We simulated implementation of the alternative project geometries and then examined fuel break-wildfire spatial interactions using a library of simulated fires developed in prior work. The results supported the hypothesis, with linear projects exhibiting substantially greater efficiency in terms of intercepting fires over larger areas, whereas radial projects had a higher interception length given a fire encountered a project. Adding economic objectives made it more difficult to obtain alternative project geometries, but substantially increased net revenue from harvested trees. We discuss how the model and results can be used to further understand decision tradeoffs and optimize the implementation of planned fuel break networks in conjunction with landscape conservation, protection, and restoration management in fire prone regions.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimizing the implementation of a forest fuel break network

Ager,

Day,

Aparício

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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“…Fires with large burned areas and extreme fire behavior usually cause serious damage to forest resources and the social environment (Balshi et al, 2009). Fire agencies in these regions should have management strategies and take active measures on fire prevention, such as fuel treatment, firebreak construction, and improving fire suppression abilities, especially in northern China's boreal forests (Zong et al, 2021). In regions, such as southern China, with frequent fires but smaller burned areas, fire agencies should work to reduce the occurrence of fires caused by human activities (Tian et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Fire Regime Zoning System for China

Zong

Tian

Liu

2021

Front. For. Glob. Change

Self Cite

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Understanding fire regimes is central to fire management. In our study, we analyzed the fire weather and forest fire regime of China using fire data from satellite remote sensing and statistics from 2000 to 2020. The fire weather index system was calculated from observed weather data for 2007 to 2017. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, we created a zoning system for China based on the spatial distribution characteristics of fire regimes and vegetation. The fire seasons varied between regions because of differences in vegetation, climate and ignition sources. The fire seasons in the north were spring and autumn. In the south and southwest forest regions, the fire seasons were winter and spring. Most forest fires occurred in southern China, but the average burned area per fire was lower compared with fires in the northeast. The zoning system includes 13 forest fire regime zones with specific fire characteristics according to quantitative variables. These zones are further divided into 17 fire regime units based on qualitative variables. Each fire regime unit has unique characteristics for regime, climate and vegetation type. Human activity was the main cause of fires, especially in south China, where the population density is high. Fire management should be tailored to each fire regime type based on fire characteristics and management targets.

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“…Wildfires are influenced by many factors, including vegetation, topography, weather, human behaviour, and ignition sources (Flannigan et al 2005). Great labours have been made around the world to lower the effects of wildfire including fuel diminution and alteration, prescribed burning, and firebreak contour (Zong et al 2021). However, it is particularly important to strengthen forest fire management and improve forest fire prediction capabilities in regions where the forest fire danger rating system remains to be developed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Fire Risk Estimation in a Typical Temperate Forest in Northeastern China using the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index, Case of Autumn 2019 and 2020

Masinda

Liu

et al. 2021

Preprint

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China's forest cover has increased by about 10% as a result of sustainable forest management since the late 1970s. The forest ecosystems area affected by fire is increasing at the alarming rate of roughly 600.000 ha per year. The northeastern part of China, with a forest cover of 41.6%, has the greatest percentage of acres affected by forest fires. This study combines field and satellite weather data to determine factors that influence dead fuel moisture content (FMC). It assesses the use of the Canadian forest fire weather index (FWI) to determine the daily forest fire danger in a typical temperate forest in northeastern China in the fall season. Based on the Wilcoxon test for paired samples, the observed and predicted values of FMC showed similar variation in 63.6% of sampling sites, with p-value > 0.05; and 36.4 % of sampling sites presented lower predicted values of FMC than observed values, with p-value < 0.05. The Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System estimated the fire danger level as very low, low, moderate, high, or very high in our Maoer mountain forest ecosystems.

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An optimal firebreak design for the boreal forest of China

Cited by 18 publications

References 63 publications

Optimizing the implementation of a forest fuel break network

Optimizing the implementation of a forest fuel break network

A Fire Regime Zoning System for China

Forest Fire Risk Estimation in a Typical Temperate Forest in Northeastern China using the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index, Case of Autumn 2019 and 2020

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