The magnificent stands of old-growth trees that characterize the forests of western North America depend on periodic fires for their creation or survival. Deprived of that essential disturbance process eventually they die, leaving an overcrowded growth of smaller trees vulnerable to intense blazes and epidemics of insects and disease.
In Mimicking Nature's Fire, forest ecologists Stephen Arno and Carl Fiedler present practical solutions to the pervasive problem of deteriorating forest conditions in western North America. Advocating a new direction in forest management, they explore the promise of ""restoration forestry"" -- an ecologically based approach that seeks to establish forest structures in which fire can once again serve as a beneficial process rather than as a destructive aberration.
The book begins with an overview of fundamentals: why traditional forestry tried to exclude fire from forests, why that attempt failed, and why foresters and ecologists now recognize the need for management based on how natural ecosystems operate. Subsequent chapters consider: how fire's historic role provides a foundation for designing restoration strategies; why a hands-off approach will not return forests to their historical condition; how management goals influence the strategies used in restoration forestry.
The second part of the book presents case studies of restoration projects in the western United States and Canada, representing different forest types, different historic fire regimes, and contrasting management goals. For each project, the authors describe why and how the project is being conducted, profile forest conditions, and describe methods of treatment. They also report what has been accomplished, identify obstacles to restoration, and offer their candid but understanding evaluation. Mimicking Nature's Fire concludes by placing restoration forestry in the broad context of conserving forests worldwide and outlining factors critical for its success.
Chapter 1. Introduction
PART I. Fundamentals Chapter 2. Ecology's Role in Forest Management Chapter 3. Knowledge from Historical Fire Regimes Chapter 4. Can Fire-Prone Forests Heal Themselves? Chapter 5. Restoration Objectives, Techniques, and Economics
PART II. Learning from Experience: Profiles of Restoration Forestry Projects by Forest Type Chapter 6. Pinyon-Juniper'The Elfin Forest Chapter 7. Ponderosa Pine/Fir'Research and Demonstration Areas Chapter 8. Ponderosa Pine/Fir'Forest Management on Public Lands Chapter 9. Ponderosa Pine/Fir'Privately Owned Conservation Reserves Chapter 10. Giant Sequoia/Mixed Conifer Chapter 11. Western Larch/Fir Chapter 12. Lodge pole Pine Chapter 13. Whitebark Pine Chapter 14. Restoring Aspen and Conifers across a Ranger District Chapter 15. Restoring Fire on a Wilderness Landscape
PARTIII. Conclusions Chapter 16. The Restoration Imperative
References About the Authors Index
"Drawing on the extensive experience of the authors and detailed examples from across the varied forest types of western North America, Arno and Fiedler show how to design and implement a range of forest restoration actions.... Rich detail, historical depth, and straightforward writing make this book valuable to foresters, ecologists, landowners, wildland fire managers, and anyone involved in western forest restoration."
