Estimation of fire resistance of partially logged pine stands in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe

Abstract

Scots pine forests are extremely fire hazardous. They show high fire frequency compared to other forest formations. This is due to their high natural fire danger, as along with high recreation activity, which is determined by a fairly dense road network and frequent forest attendance. Moreover, about 90 % of all forest fires are caused by residents. High fire frequency in the forest-steppe Scots pine stands results in silvicultural and economic waste. In the forest-steppe pine forests, partial logging (selective, gradual, etc.) is carried out quite frequently, which has a certain impact on fire danger, fire resistance and post-pyrogenic characteristics. One of the possible ways to reduce negative effects of forest fires is to improve resistance of Scots pine stands. The development of evidence-based fire prevention measures requires assessment of fire resistance. The paper identifies the main factors of fire resistance of Scots pine stands. These factors include forest fuel loads, average diameter of trees, average bark thickness, average distance to the crown, average depth of the roots, the proportion of deciduous species in the stand and in the undergrowth, density and height of regeneration. The paper provides an adequate assessment of fire resistance of partially (selectively) logged Scots pine forests of the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe. Evaluation of fire resistance is made according to point system using the weighted sum of points.

Keywords

• scots pine forests
• stand fire resistance
• logging
• weighted points
• krasnoyarsk krai