Progress in wilderness fire science: embracing complexity

“…earth and community of life untrammeled by man…” “…primeval character and influence…” “…without permanent improvements …” “…managed to preserve natural conditions…” “…affected primarily by the forces of nature…” “…man’s work substantially unnoticeable…” Untrammeled: “Not being subject to human controls and manipulations that hamper the free play of natural forces.” Photo: Enric Batllori Wilderness (1964):

Wilderness Fire: Intentionally allowing a fire to burn (primarily) on its own terms to benefit the resource “Let Burn” Prescribed Natural Fire Natural Fire Management Wildland Fire Use Multiple Objective Fire Wildland Fire for Resource Benefit Managed Wildfire Photo: Steve Wirt

Wilderness Fire Science: State-of-Knowledge Reviews Kilgore National wilderness research conference, July 23-26, 1985, Fort Collins, CO. Agee Wilderness in a time of change conference, May 23-27, 1999, Missoula, MT. Discussions Symposium and workshop on wilderness fire, November 15-18, 1983, Missoula, MT Symposium on fire in wilderness and park management, March 20- April 1, 1993, Missoula, MT.

Wilderness Fire Science: State-of-Knowledge Reviews Kilgore National wilderness research conference, July 23-26, 1985, Fort Collins, CO. Agee Wilderness in a time of change conference, May 23-27, 1999, Missoula, MT. Discussions Symposium and workshop on wilderness fire, November 15-18, 1983, Missoula, MT Symposium on fire in wilderness and park management, March 20- April 1, 1993, Missoula, MT. Stands to landscapes Fire regime types Models and data

The wilderness fire experiment National Park Service 1967 policy: “fires from natural causes…predetermined fire management units” NPS photo: B. Kilgore 1968 Kennedy Ridge fire (Kings Canyon NP) NPS photo 1972 Bad Luck fire (Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness) Forest Service 1972 policy: “fire will be allowed to more nearly play its natural role”

The wilderness fire experiment Selway-Bitterroot Sequoia- Kings Canyon Yosemite Saguaro Gila Bob Marshall Frank Church- River of No Return Okefenokee Everglades (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) Alaska

Results Social science

Influences on wilderness fire management Results – Social science External factors Public support: Winter 2003, Kneeshaw et al. 2004

Influences on wilderness fire management Results – Social science External factors Public support: Winter 2003, Kneeshaw et al Attitudes of wilderness visitors: Stankey 1976, McCool and Stankey 1986 Trends in attitudes: Borrie et al. 2006, Knotek et al. 2008, Knotek 2006

Influences on wilderness fire management Results – Social science Internal factors Institutional constraints: Steelman and McCaffrey 2011 Barriers and facilitators: Doane et al. 2006, Williamson 2007, Black et al Inclination for wilderness fire was associated with personal commitment

Results Fire ecology

Results – Fire ecology Fire history

Multiple repeated fires at natural fire intervals Results – Fire ecology Wilderness as a natural laboratory Nutrient cycling: DeLuca & Sala 2006 Snag dynamics: Holden et al Severity prediction: Holden et al Fire regimes: Rollins et al. 2002, Haire et al. 2013, Morgan et al. 2014, Parks et al Human influence: Parks et al Photo: Holden et al. 2007

Multiple repeated fires at natural fire intervals Results – Fire ecology Restoration implications Forest structure and resilience: Keeling et al. 2006, Fulé & Laughlin 2007, Holden et al. 2007, Leirfallom & Keane 2011, Larson et al Photo: Andrew Larson

Multiple repeated fires at natural fire intervals Results – Fire ecology Interacting fires: Collins et al. 2009; Holden et al. 2010; Teske et al. 2012; van Wagtendonk et al. 2012; Parks et al. 2014, 2015, 2016 Restoration implications Forest structure and resilience: Keeling et al. 2006, Fulé & Laughlin 2007, Holden et al. 2007, Leirfallom & Keane 2011, Larson et al. 2013

Photo: Andrew Larson Fire as a natural landscape process landscape heterogeneity variability mixed regimes synergisms uncertainty