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FIRE DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM MAP |
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* Roll over a region and click to see information |
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Common in the southwestern mountains as far north as Washington and Oregon, and east to the Dakotas. |
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Natural Fires in this ecosystem usually occur every five to 25 years. |
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These fires tend to be low intensity ground fires that remove woody shrubs and favor grasses, creating open, park-like ponderosa stands. |
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The life history of ponderosa pine is well-adapted to high frequency, low intensity fires. These fires burn litter and release soil nutrients, thus providing a good seedbed for ponderosa pine seeds. |
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Ponderosa needles on the ground facilitate the spread of low intensity ground fires, and minimize the dander of crown fires, which can kill ponderosa. |
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In ponderosa pine stands, fire is generally prescribed on five- to ten-year intervals to reduce fuel loads. Shorter burn intervals have insufficient fuel built up to maintain the fire, and longer periods may run the risk of causing tree-killing crown fires. Prescribed fires usually result in maintenance of stand composition. |
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