Giant sequoias were nearly four times more likely to survive extreme wildfires in forests that had been treated with prescribed burns, according to a new NASA-funded study.
The research found that controlled burning, which reduces tree mortality by removing excess vegetation and other fuels, can significantly improve the chances of giant sequoias surviving high-intensity fires.
Giant sequoias are a unique species found only on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. The trees can grow to more than 300 feet in height and exceed 30 feet in diameter.
Key for ecosystem
They play a crucial role in their ecosystems, serving as carbon stores and water filters while providing habitat and structural support for birds, insects and small mammals.
In recent years, however, wildfires have killed far more giant sequoias than would normally be expected, raising concerns about the long-term survival of the species.
The study highlights prescribed, or “controlled”, burns as one potential tool for protecting the trees.
By reducing shrubs, dead wood and other dry fuels on the forest floor, controlled burns can lower the intensity of subsequent wildfires and reduce the likelihood of trees being killed.
The findings suggest that carefully managed fire could play an increasingly important role in protecting giant sequoia forests as extreme wildfires become a growing threat.
The researchers said the results underline the importance of forest management strategies that reduce fuel loads and help preserve these long-lived trees and the ecosystems they support.
Source: CNA
