Mountain Pine Beetle and Fire By David Bob NRTC 165 Ecology Brent Langlois March 29, 2006 Abstract Fire can, and will be a key component in dealing with during, and after effects of the MPB attack on our pine trees. We are only just now starting to look at reintroducing fire as a natural use in the management of our ecosystems. We have already faced some of the real impacts of what can occur with not utilizing fire as a prescribed burn. In prescribing fire we will have to ensure we understand how to use and what effects we wish to have. This will take considerable studies to determine the best method to use in ensuring prescribed burns achieve desired effects. Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………...i Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………ii List of Illustrations………………………………………………………………….iii Introduction 1 Pine Beetle Management 2 First Nations Fire Use 2 Impacts to Consider 3 Soil 4 Trees and Plants………………….. 4 Wildlife……………………………….. 5 Riparian………………………………… 5 Planning………………………………. 6 Roads………………………………….. 6 Prescribed Fire……………………….. 7 Challenges for Prescribed Fire…….. 7 Future Prescribed Fires…………….. 7 Wildfire Impact………………………… 8 Invasive Species……………………… 9 Dead Stands…………………………… 9 Control………………………………. 10 Conclusion……………………………. 10 Work Cited 11 List of Illustrations Illustration 1…………………………………………………………………………1 Ecological Rationale and Implementation (2006) Illustration 2…………………………………………………………………………3 Forests and Lands (2005) Illustration 3…………………………………………………………………………4 Table 1 Ecological Rationale and Implementation 2006 Illustration 4…………………………………………………………………………5 Road Construction (2006) Mountain Pine Beetle and Fire Introduction No matter how it occurs, fire will have a greater impact on our forests in the future. If we manage to utilize fire in an appropriate manner, it can be used to our benefit. In dealing with the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB), the utilization of fire on terrestrial ecosystems can provide a means to preserve the terrestrial life in the ecosystem. We do have knowledge regarding the effects of wildfire. But we will have to enhance our knowledge to learn how to best conduct a prescribed fire. This study will have to be performed in a short amount of time as the forests are under attack and we have little time to idly sit by. We are fighting a losing battle with the MPB, one that will leave many casualties in our forests. We must either learn to reintroduce controlled fire into ecosystems, or nature will do this for us in an uncontrolled manner. Illustration 1 Ecological Rationale and Implementation (2006) Pine Beetle Management This year the BC government has changed its focus from that of attacking the MPB to that of salvaging the economic viability of an attacked pine tree (Ecosystem Restoration Strategy 2006). We do not have the infrastructure to keep up with the rate of spread of the MPB, so all mills in BC that have infested pine trees in their area will only harvest and process pine trees beginning this year. Even with the focus on processing to this magnitude, we can not possibly hope to keep pace with the infestation. In 10-15 years experts predict we will have only harvested 60% of our attacked pine forests. This will leave 40% as standing dead. An understanding must be in place to manage prescribed burns for infected areas. For this we can turn to First Nations (FN) people, as they have historically utilized fire in traditional manners to improve habitat for food supply prior to contact with Europeans. First Nations Fire Use Historically, First Nations people used fire to control habitats (May Moses 2006). Fire could eliminate unwanted pests or improve conditions for food items like deer and berries. The MPB was not as dominant today as it was in the past, due to the fact forest ecosystems were maintained at a healthy state by the use of controlled fire. Fire was used to reduce tree density for ease of travel. The thinning process created a habitat that was less idealistic for the MPB. FN people used fire as a means to create smoke to discourage insects within a community. When FN people prescribed fire, they did not just decide one day to set a fire. They would meet together determine if an area needed fire, and how to best utilize fire as a means to achieve the desired effect. All impacts of fire were evaluated and as a group they decided the best course of action. Impacts to Consider To utilize prescribed fire, we must first understand that it has to be performed in a controlled manner, and understand why we want a fire. A prescribed fire must be performed to strike a balance between protecting the environment and maintaining social and economic stability. To protect an ecosystem, we must understand the effects of the impact and the properties within the ecosystem. A terrestrial ecosystem has an abundance of dead biomass, functional sensitivity, long lived species, and pollution sinks. Illustration 2 Forests and Lands (2005) With that in mind, we will have to take a close look at various aspects before we perform a prescribed fire. These factors are: • Number and arrangement of overstory trees by species • Number and arrangement of understory trees by species • Understory plant community • Quantity, decay class and arrangement of dead surface material • Size and severity of fire • Terrestrial habitat We will need careful planning to ensure the desired effect is achieved in a prescribed fire. The season, climate, topography and intensity of dead biomass will determine the intensity of flames. If the flames become too intense they can have a negative impact. These impacts can adversely affect the soil. Soil Soil elements are lost at various temperatures of a fire. Soil Heat Level Impacts Soil Constituent or Property Temperature (Celsius) Carbon 100 Water 100 Hydrophobicity 175 Nitrogen 175 Organic Phosphorus 350 Sulfur 375 Clay Aggregate 500 Potassium 550 Inorganic Phosphorus 770 Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium >800 Table 1 Ecological Rationale and Implementation 2006 A temperature on the duff layer for only 1 minute will have an adverse effect on clay aggregates. Soil is an agent that is non-renewable and we must take great care in protecting this. Slope can also play a key part in the degradation of soil. By attempting to retain some of the understory plants or trees we may prevent this erosion from happening. Erosion can also occur by hydrological effects of precipitation. Ensuring sufficient understory is present we can limit soil erosion in the future. Trees and Plants The age class, species, and stand structure of trees can also have a dramatic impact on a fire and its effects. Understory plants can either have a negative or positive effect from a prescribed fire. Certain species of plants can survive a spring fire while others can survive a fall fire. By surveying the area to ascertain the vegetation type we can properly prescribe a fire once we know the growing characteristics of the species we wish to protect. Plant communities also provide a unique habitat to certain wildlife. We will also have to ensure that the wildlife will be affected as little as possible. Wildlife Some birds and mammals utilize the overstory and understory at various times of the year. Understanding their habits and working a fire around seasonal activities will ensure the impact is minimal. We must know what type of animals may seek shelter in certain types of trees or understory, their reproductive cycles, what type of foliage is required as food. Lastly, we must ensure that there are no endangered species in the area. It is not to our advantage to limit survival chances of endangered species. Picture 3 Forests and Lands (2005) Riparian Besides the terrestrial ecosystem, we also have to take into consideration the riparian zones. The vegetation here can take longer in some instances to replenish. The vegetation here is very unique and of high importance. Riparian zone systems control the quality of our watersheds and the habitat within it. Of all areas to manage, this will be the most difficult area, as it creates a buffer between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This will require a lot more planning for a prescribed burn. Planning Now, with all of that in mind, we can begin to plan a prescribed fire. To plan a prescribed burn we must: 1. determine why we want to burn 2. determine what we want to accomplish in a burn 3. determine how we can achieve this in a burn Roads When we want to do a prescribed burn, we must ensure we have access in case we may require additional support crew (Road Construction 2006). With MPB impact in such a large, undeveloped area, this can pose some challenges. Illustration 4 Road Construction (2006) Some parts of BC have better road systems than other areas. We will have to study the topography to ensure the least amount of impact is sustained in constructing roads. With the building of roads, we will have to use the least amount of area in construction. Prescribed Fire In order to have success in reducing the population of MPB, we will have to carefully understand the patterns of this invasive species (Mountain Pine Beetle… 2005). Fire will have to be utilized before the MPB takes flight. Only a Rank 4 fire will have an effect in reducing the population size. As both of these are weather dependant, we may not achieve the desired effects. We can also use fire to target specific age class of pine trees, but with the MPB attacking secondary growth trees now, this may not be an option. Using extensive fire blocks as a means to reduce habitat in which MPB can live is another option. But with the data changing in MPB spread previously being limited to 40 km, and current studies showing that this has now changed to 80 km. It will be difficult to determine at what distance we should use fire breaks to prevent infestation in neighboring stands. Challenges for Prescribed Fire Utilization of prescribed fire faces many challenges from society. Smoke, from many aspects is not a desired within communities, and blackened trees from forest companies have no aesthetic qualities and have reduced value. In using fire as means of suppressing MPB, there is a risk. The correct administration of fire usually occurs when the fire rating is high. Social and business aspects usually outweigh the technical aspects in administering prescribed fire. Educating public into why we need fire will take time, but we must understand fire will be more pronounced in our future. Future Prescribed Fires As our current infrastructure can not possibly harvest all of the attacked trees before they lose economic value, we will be left with dead, dense stands of pine (Ecosystem Restoration 2006). This will pose a huge challenge to forest management. Our mills are processing wood fiber at maximum capacity right now. Whether we will accept fire is not the issue. Fire will devastate infested areas in time. If we look at the Yellowstone fire that occurred in 1988, we will have a better understanding. A MPB outbreak had occurred in Yellowstone 10 years prior to the fire. There was very little addition to surface loading materials, but the standing timber that had been infested created the perfect stage for a candling fire. There was very little fire fighters could do in this instance to combat the fire. We must determine the best means to eliminate the dead and decaying wood in a safe manner. This will be best accomplished in a controlled manner with prescribed fire. If we do not use prescribed fire in this manner we only invite more instances of the Kelowna fire in 2003. Wildfire Impact The Okanagan Mountain Park Fire occurred in 2003 (Ecological Rationale and Implementation 2006). Most people only look at the initial cost of fighting a fire such as this. There is also considerable cost and issues in dealing with the environmental impacts after such a fire. Some of these facts from the Okanagan fire are: • 665,000 m3 salvaged from the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire (19,000 truck loads x 35 m3/truck) • economic value in crown stumpage unknown but could be as low as $170,000 (665,000 m3 x $0.25/m3) • fire cost by the fall of 2003 estimated at $33.8 million • salvage priority based of fire severity • economic recovery of value before it is lost was primary driver with issues such as soils, riparian, wildlife, habitat, biodiversity, forest health, all secondary or constraining elements By looking at these facts, we can better understand economic and environmental impacts must be considered when a fire does intrude into our forest systems. A post wildfire is also a key element as invasive plant species are very quick to grow in disturbed sites. Some invasive plant seeds can lay dormant for up to 1,700 years. Invasive species Combating invasive species alone is a challenging issue. Even without the future issues dealing with MPB, we already have a problem in fighting invasive plants in all ecosystems (Invasive Species 2006). Invasive plant species grow at an alarming rate and density. These species grow best on disturbed sites. With the vast wilderness impacted by MPB we must start to understand how to best limit their encroachment into BC ecosystems. Invasive plants, if left uncontrolled, will dramatically affect the ability of native plant species to thrive in their natural environment. The long roots of invasive plants and rate of reproduction will inhibit native plant regeneration. We must ensure invasive plants do not replace dead stands after prescribed fires. Dead Stands The most challenging aspect of dealing with dead stands will be how to prescribe fire for these areas (open dialogue 2006). We must act with as little impact to the current, surviving habitat underneath this canopy. More studies into the impact and effects of fires will be needed by the governments within Canada. We are currently relying on US studies, but their ecosystems, though similar, are different from ours. With dead forests, the understory is still thriving. We may have to look at the dynamics of this area and determine what it is we wish to maintain. We may utilize prescribed burns in these areas during winter months to preserve understory habitats. Attacked pine trees do not add to surface loading, but with prescribed burns in winter, we may have to induce a second prescribed burn to eliminate unburned material if needed. Spring burns can reduce the effect to understory communities but is dependant on the species present within the ecosystem. Fall burns can also prove effective in reducing burn effects to habitats. In some areas the succession of mixed stands may play a huge part in how we burn as well. Control Roads will be needed for access, but in the case of hundreds of Ha of dead stands we will have to create fire breaks as a means of control. Topography and location will be the key element in determining the width of these breaks. We will have to study the decay class of these stands to ensure safety for crews in this area, as well as added precaution to ensure a wildfire is not established instead of a prescribed fire. Crews will have to maintain more diligence in these areas for safety. Conclusion The greatest impact of the MPB will be the reintroduction of fire into today’s society. Our best means is to utilize fire in a prescribed manner to ensure the desired effect is achieved. Without controlled fires, we will suffer from dramatic economic and social impacts. We must use fire in a means of understanding the effects and behavior within our ecosystems. Work Cited Dobson, Don 2006 Road Construction. (Power Point Presentation). FORREX Workshop. Thompson Rivers University February 28, 2006. Environment Canada. 2005. Climate Change. Retrieved March 11, 2006, from: ec.gc.ca/climate/overview_canada-e.html FORREX Workshop 2006. Thompson Rivers University. (Open dialogue, February 28, 2006). Gayton, Don 2006. Ecosystem Restoration. (Power Point Presentation). FORREX Workshop. Thompson Rivers University February 28, 2006. Gray, Robert 2006. Ecological Rationale and Implementation (Power Point Presentation). FORREX Workshop. Thompson Rivers University February 28, 2006. May Moses. (personal interview) March 21, 2006. Natural Resource Canada 2002. Mountain Pine Beetle. The Role and Use of Fire. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from: pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/entomology/mpb/management/fire_e.html Polster, Dave 2006. Invasive Species. (Power Point Presentation). FORREX Workshop. Thompson Rivers University February 28, 2006. Suzuki, David. 2006. Climate Change. Retrieved March 11, 2006, from: davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/ Suzuki, David. 2005. Forests and Lands. Retrieved March 11, 2006, from: davidsuzuki.org/Forests/Biodiversity/Climate_and_Biodiversity.asp Wood, Christine 2006. Ecosystem Restoration Strategy. (Power Point Presentation). FORREX Workshop. Thompson Rivers University February 28, 2006.
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