Should Forest Fires be Suppressed

1
Should Forest Fires be Suppressed?
2
There are many regions that need fire.

• Southern Pine Communities
• Ponderosa Pine in the Southwest and Intermountain
  West
• Jack Pine Communities of the Great Lakes Region
• Midwest Tall grass Prairie
• Alaska's Boreal Forest and Tundra

3
Benefits of fire in Southern Pine Communities

• Fire prepares the soil for the seeds of Southern
  pine by removing litter and releasing soil
  nutrients
• Removes other competitive species.

4
Benefits of fire in Ponderosa Pine in the
Southwest and Intermountain West

• Ponderosa needles on the ground facilitate the
  spread of low intensity ground fires, and reduce
  grasses that can intensify ground fires.
• These fires burn litter and release soil
  nutrients, thus providing a good seedbed for
  ponderosa pine seeds
• Every 5-10 years

5
Pinus banksiana (Jack Pine)
6
Benefits of fire in Jack Pine Communities of the
Great Lakes Region

• Crown fires reduce competition
• Jack Pine has Serotinous cones which need fire
  to release there seeds

7
Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine)
Pinus clausa (sand pine)
8
Midwest Tall grass Prairie

• Removes woody plants and trees
• Fire reduces bio mass of grass land
• Improves productivity

9
Benefits of fire in Alaska's Boreal Forest and
Tundra

• Fire returns nutrients to the soil by breaking
  down dead materials.
• This leads to a rapid proliferation of growth,
  benefiting both plants and animals.