Project Links
Enhancing Pile Burning Strategies in Alaska's Boreal Forests - A Comprehensive Approach, 2024-2025
Denali National Park and Preserve » Enhancing Pile Burning Strategies in Alaska's Boreal Forests - A Comprehensive Approach, 2024-2025 » Document List
The National Park Service proposes to approve a research permit for a Northern Arizona University research project that will investigate the seasonal effects of fuels management debris pile burning in the frontcountry (entrance area fire management units) in cooperation with the Denali Fire Managment Program staff.
RPRS Application Information:
Purpose of Study:
The front-country of Denali NP&P provides an uncommon opportunity to conduct intensive research on fire management activities in an easily accessible location. As Denali embarks on a major revision and implementation an updated fire management plan, the opportunity presents itself to experimentally manipulate when the resulting debris piles are burned (fall or spring) in order to develop a set of best practices for pile burning in the boreal forest ecosystem. In collaboration with NPS Fire Management, we have identified a distinct knowledge gap in the literature and management recommendations regarding how and when to burn piles in Alaska's boreal forest. The work proposed here will address the knowledge gap, and capitalize on planned NPS management actions to produce immediately useable recommendations for Denali Fire Managers and the broader Alaska fire science community.
Summary of proposed field methods and activities:
In direct collaboration with DENA Fire Management staff, we propose a study that would quantify soil heating and biophysical effects of pile burning in the boreal forest. The relevant modes of disturbance are outlined here (directly from reference document attached):
RPRS Application Information:
Purpose of Study:
The front-country of Denali NP&P provides an uncommon opportunity to conduct intensive research on fire management activities in an easily accessible location. As Denali embarks on a major revision and implementation an updated fire management plan, the opportunity presents itself to experimentally manipulate when the resulting debris piles are burned (fall or spring) in order to develop a set of best practices for pile burning in the boreal forest ecosystem. In collaboration with NPS Fire Management, we have identified a distinct knowledge gap in the literature and management recommendations regarding how and when to burn piles in Alaska's boreal forest. The work proposed here will address the knowledge gap, and capitalize on planned NPS management actions to produce immediately useable recommendations for Denali Fire Managers and the broader Alaska fire science community.
Summary of proposed field methods and activities:
In direct collaboration with DENA Fire Management staff, we propose a study that would quantify soil heating and biophysical effects of pile burning in the boreal forest. The relevant modes of disturbance are outlined here (directly from reference document attached):