Surface Fuel Models and Fire Hazard in Golestan National Park
Subject Areas : forest
1 - Assistant Prof., Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Keywords: Golestan National Park, Fuel load, Landscape resilience, Surface fuel, Wildfire,
Abstract :
Determining custom fuel models in forest and rangeland ecosystems is crucial to predict the potential fire behavior and spread, wildfire management, and ecosystem restoration. The objective of this study was to quantify the amount and structure of surface fuel available for combustion in grasslands, shrublands and forests in Golestan National Park, NE Iran. All information related herbaceous vegetation and surface litter were collected from 1m × 1m, 10m × 10m, and 30m × 30m sampling plots, respectively in the grasslands (n=24), shrublands (n=8), and forest (n=22) fuel types based on Stratified Random Sampling. A fuel hazard rating is assigned to each fuel by assessing the key attributes including fuel load (t ha-1), fuelbed depth (cm), and litter cover (%). The results revealed that variation in surface fuel hazards among fuel types corresponded to patterns of fine fuel loading (1-hr). Broadleaves litter fuels had higher total fine fuel loads resulting from greater grass dominance, potentially providing higher surface fuel hazard. Differences in fuel structure between the existing fuel types also had an important effect. Determining custom fuel models and fire risk assessment in these models is important for natural resource managers to select methods to reduce fuel loads, fire mitigation, and retain the landscape resilience to future wildfires.
_||_
