Forest Sciences Commons^™

Do Aspen Stands Reduce Fire Severity And Stop Fire Spread?, Elyse Doty

Student Research Symposium

Aspen stands are widely thought to behave as fire breaks, reducing fire severity and preventing fire spread. However, this prevailing belief has not been well studied. With larger more intense fires in recent decades and further projected changes in fire behavior for the future, having a better understanding of how aspen trees and stands interact with fire would be valuable for forecasting how our forests will respond to climate change and disturbance in the future. In addition, forest managers in Utah and other regions of the Intermountain West conduct aspen restoration treatments for multiple objectives, including fire mitigation. To quantify …