Research

One goal of the NPS Fire Ecology Program is to ensure fire management activities are informed and supported by the best available scientific information. Research serves to define the natural and aboriginal role of fire for use in formulating and implementing such fire use management actions as prescribed fire, suppression strategies and tactics, fuel hazard abatement, and prevention measures. Research also plays a critical role in fire management programs by determining whether human activity has affected native ecosystems, developing techniques for predicting fire behavior, documenting and analyzing fire effects, and other topics as needed.

When information to support fire management activities is unknown, a research study may be needed to help provide this information. Research projects may be funded from a variety of sources both internal and external to the agency. In order to use the limited funds available for research in the most efficient way, consolidating research needs helps to identify the highest priority projects that will benefit the greatest number of programs.

In order to effectively manage Park resources and landscapes, managers must be equipped with the most up-to-date information and findings regarding the ecology of the flora and fauna found in those regions. National Park units are host to many scientific research studies, and many Parks are highly valued as study sites because they have often been protected from the extractive uses to which adjacent lands have frequently been subjected.

Space-Based Burn Severity Mapping in Alaska’s National Parks
By Brian Sorbel and Jennifer Allen
Information about burn severity helps fire and resource managers understand the effects of wildland fires on the fuels, vegetation, and wildlife. During the 2004 summer, record high temperatures and low precipitation resulted in
the largest fire season in the state’s recorded history, with more than six million acres burned.

Effect of Thinning and Prescribed Burning on Crown Fire Severity in Ponderosa Pine Forests
This research quantitatively examined fire effects in treated and untreated Ponderosa pine stands in western United States National Forests.

Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Fire and Nonnative Invasive Plants
September 2008
This state-of-knowledge review of information on relationships between wildland fire and nonnative invasive plants can assist fire managers and other land managers concerned with prevention, detection, and eradication or control of nonnative invasive plants.

Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Flora
December 2000
This review about the effects of fire on flora and fuels can assist land managers with ecosystem and fire management planning and in their efforts to inform others about the ecological role of fire.

Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Fauna
January 2000
Fires affect animals mainly through effects on their habitat. Fires often cause short-term increases in wildlife foods that contribute to increases in populations of some animals.

Research Opportunities for Scientists in the National Parks
Opportunities to do fire-related research in the parks.

Preliminary Results
Results from the Fire Monitoring Program

Fire Monitoring Handbook
This handbook is intended to facilitate and standardize monitoring where appropriate for NPS units that are subject to burning by wildland or prescribed fire.

Fire Ecology Assessment Tool (FEAT)
FEAT is a relational database management system developed to support immediate and long-term monitoring and reporting of fire effects.

NPS/USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project
The Joint NPS-USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project addresses the need to quantify fire effects over large, often-remote regions and long time intervals.