Metla Project 3497

Fire management and fire use strategies

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Duration: 2008-2010   Keywords: biodiversity, forest fires, international co-operation, prescribed burning, restoration
Research project group:

Objectives

The project objectives are: 1) Evaluate the biodiversity effects of controlled fire, and usability of fire in forest restoration and management. 2) Study how to prevent forest fire risk and environmental problems caused by fire.

1. The study on the biodiversity effects of fires is based on year 2002 founded field experiment, where the biodiversity effects of unburned and burned sites with different levels of CWD is compared. Multidisciplinary study on forest structure, various environmental factors and different ecosystem components (tree layer, dead wood, regeneration of seedlings, epixylic bryophytes and lichens, understorey vegetation, insects, soil nutrients) is being carried out. The objectives include also: i) ensure the continuity of the necessary long-term monitoring for assessment of biodiversity effects and make a holistic evaluation of restoration treatments, ii) collect all research and expertise of the project to serve in ongoing national programs' development work (METSO development, KEMERA legislation development process).

2. In forest fire risk study, objectives are: i) develop the ignition probability classification of Finnish forests based on 65 burning experiments already carried out; ii) publish safety instructions concerning prescribed burning and restoration burnings together with The Ministry of Interior; iii) compare the flammability of various forest floor materials and composition and characteristics of smoke emissions during fires in co-operation with VTT; iv) develop the forest fire index, and study the seasonal variation in forest fires in co-operation with The Meteorological Institute, v) create a network of burned experimental sites from already existing and in future burned sites. These will be included to a national network of demonstration and research sites, which will finally be attached to a European wide network. International co-operation will be further continued in global forest fire risk assessment and evaluation of environmental risks in changing climate.

Project leader: Vanha-Majamaa, Ilkka
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Unit, PO Box 18 (Jokiniemenkuja 1), FI-01301 VANTAA, FINLAND
Phone: +358 29 532 2532
E-mail: ilkka.vanha-majamaa@metla.fi

Other researchers: Huhta, Esa, RO (2010), Kauhanen, Heikki, KO (2008-10), Penttilä, Reijo, VA (2008)


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Updated 02.02.2013
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