Cascading effects of fire exclusion in Rocky Mountain ecosystems: A literature review

U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report 91
By: , and 

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Abstract

The health of many Rocky Mountain ecosystems is in decline because of the policy of excluding fire in the management of these ecosystems. Fire exclusion has actually made it more difficult to fight fires, and this poses greater risks to the people who fight fires and for those who live in and around Rocky Mountain forests and rangelands. This paper discusses the extent of fire exclusion in the Rocky Mountains, then details the diverse and cascading effects of suppressing fires in the Rocky Mountain landscape by spatial scale, ecosystem characteristic, and vegetation type. Also discussed are the varied effects of fire exclusion on some important, keystone ecosystems and human concerns.
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Federal Government Series
Title Cascading effects of fire exclusion in Rocky Mountain ecosystems: A literature review
Series title U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report
Series number 91
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher U.S. Forest Service
Publisher location Fort Collins, CO
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 24 p.
Other Geospatial Rocky Mountains
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