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Cited by 640Fire effects on ecosystemsForest Management and PolicyRangeland and Wildlife Management

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Changing wildfire, changing forests: the effects of climate change on fire regimes and vegetation in the Pacific Northwest, USA

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Halofsky, Jessica E., Peterson, David L., Harvey, Brian J.·2020·Fire Ecology
DOI 10.1186/s42408-019-0062-8
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Abstract

Background: Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana, USA) have been immense in recent years, capturing the attention of resource managers, fire scientists, and the general public. This paper synthesizes understanding of the potential effects of changing climate and fire regimes on Pacific Northwest forests, including effects on disturbance and stress interactions, forest structure and composition, and post-fire ecological processes. We frame this information in a risk assessment context, and conclude with management implications and future research needs. Results: Large and severe fires in the Pacific Northwest are associated with warm and dry conditions, and such conditions will likely occur with increasing frequency in a warming climate. According to projections based on historical records, current trends, and simulation modeling, protracted warmer and drier conditions will drive lower fuel moisture and longer fire seasons in the future, likely increasing the frequency and extent of fires compared to the twentieth century. Interactions between fire and other disturbances, such as drought and insect outbreaks, are likely to be the primary drivers of ecosystem change in a warming climate. Reburns are also likely to occur more frequently with warming and drought, with potential effects on tree regeneration and species composition. Hotter, drier sites may be particularly at risk for regeneration failures. Conclusion: Resource managers will likely be unable to affect the total area burned by fire, as this trend is driven strongly by climate. However, fuel treatments, when implemented in a spatially strategic manner, can help to decrease fire intensity and severity and improve forest resilience to fire, insects, and drought. Where fuel treatments are less effective (wetter, high-elevation, and coastal forests), managers may consider implementing fuel breaks around high-value resources. When and where post-fire planting is an option, planting different genetic stock than has been used in the past may increase seedling survival. Planting seedlings on cooler, wetter microsites may also help to increase survival. In the driest topographic locations, managers may need to consider where they will try to forestall change and where they will allow conversions to vegetation other than what is currently dominant.

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Metadata

Authors
Halofsky, J. E., Peterson, D. L., & Harvey, B. J.
Affiliations
  • US Forest Service (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Halofsky, Jessica E.
ORCID
Venue
Fire Ecology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-01-27
Volume
16
Issue
1
ISSN
1933-9747 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s42408-019-0062-8
OpenAlex
W3000989483
Cited by
640
References
235
Citations by year
2026: 74 · 2025: 142 · 2024: 141 · 2023: 121 · 2022: 91 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 8
FWCI
26.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Fire Ecology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (G17AS00114)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Forestry › Forest Management and Policy
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Rangeland and Wildlife Management
Keywords
climate change, forest fires, fire regimes, Pacific Northwest forests, insect outbreaks, fuel moisture content, fire season length, fire severity, fuel treatment, firebreaks, post-fire regeneration, seedling survival, forest resilience, forest composition, vegetation change, fire risk assessment

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