Fire-smart forest management: A pragmatic approach to sustainable forest management in fire-dominated ecosystems

Abstract

Cordy Tymstra3, Rob ~c~l~i n e~, Brad ~a w k e s~, Herman stegehuis6, Sherra ~u i n t i l i o~, Sylvie ~a u t h i e r~ and Karl peck9Sustainable forest management in many of Canada's forest ecosystems requires simultaneously miniizing the socioeconomic impacts of fire and maximizing its ecological benefits. A pragmatic approach to addressing these seemingly conflicting objectives is fire-smart forest management. This involves planning and conducting forest management and fire management activities in a fully integrated manner at both the stand and landscape levels. This paper describes the concept of fire-smart forest management, discusses its need and benefits, and explores challenges to effective implementation.Key words: forest fire management, fire-smart forest management, landscape fire assessment, sustainable forest management La pratique du d6veloppement durable clans plusieurs des kosystiimes forestiers du Canada doit minimiser des les impacts socio4conomiques des incendies de for& tout en maximisant leur effets bknkfiques sur le plan kcologique. Afin de rkaliser de concert ces deux objectifs qui semblent contradictoires, une approche pragmatique pourrait &re la solution: l'amknagement forestier intelli-feu (c.-8-d. fire-smart). Cette approche vise la planiflcation et la realisation des activitks d'amknagement forestier et de gestion des incendies de fa~on inGgr6e, tant au niveau des paysages qu'au niveau des peuplements. Cet article pr6sente le concept d'amtnagement forestier intelli-feu, sa nkcessit6 et ses avantages, ainsi que les dkfis qui se posent face 2 sa rnise en pratique.Mots-clb : am6nagement forestier durable, amknagement forestier intelli-feu, kvaluation des incendies au niveau du paysage, gestion des incendies de forst

Fire and the relative roles of weather, climate and landscape characteristics in the Great Lakes‐St. Lawrence forest of Canada

“…These strategies could involve silvicultural practices that influence the abundance and distribution of deciduous fuel types. Indeed, such 'fire smart' strategies already inform planning of fire risk abatement in different jurisdictions, principally through the management of aspen stands in time and space (Hirsch et al 2001;Le Goff et al 2005). Prioritization of landscapes in which to implement such strategies could be based on prevalence of the various enduring landscape attributes identified here as important influences on area burned e.g.…”

Climate change implications for stand yields and soil expectation values: A northern Saskatchewan case study

“…For example, possibilities include: (a) targeted research and learning, (b) improved data and information sharing, (c) encouraging experimentation and adaptive management in forest management and planning, (d) investigating new kinds of institutional arrangements that are more effective at facilitating autonomous adaptation (e.g., is there a potential larger role for private markets in forest management in Canada? ), (e) reducing exposure through hedging, diversification and/or shorter rotations, and (f) risk reduction strategies such as fire-smart landscapes (Hirsch et al 2001). Possibly the most significant change that needs to occur is that forest managers will need to recognize and embrace the increasing levels of uncertainty that are anticipated to occur.…”

Self-servicing energy efficient routing strategy for smart forest

“…Lyon et al (2000) have discussed fire regimes and the manner in which these shape and change the landscape (Lyon et al 2000). In their work in designing a Fire-smart Forest Management approach, Hirsch et al (2001) have discussed the challenges involved in the context of Canada' forest regions. The authors identify the need to minimize the economic and social impacts left by devastating forest fires over the most widespread and commonly-held belief that forest fires should be controlled in an efficient manner.…”