Forest fire hazard assessment based on forest typology
The study of forest fire prevalence in Ukraine in recent years has revealed severe challenges for the scientific community associated with the reduction of operational, nature protection, and recreational functions of forests. When assessing the potential fire hazards, a contradiction arises because...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ukrainian National Forestry University
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Наукові праці Лісівничої академії наук України |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://fasu.nltu.edu.ua/index.php/nplanu/article/view/814 |
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| Summary: | The study of forest fire prevalence in Ukraine in recent years has revealed severe challenges for the scientific community associated with the reduction of operational, nature protection, and recreational functions of forests. When assessing the potential fire hazards, a contradiction arises because the fire risk is minimal in wet hygrotopes, but on the other hand, the total supply of terrestrial combustible materials is greater in forest types with excessive soil moisture, where organic matter decomposes. In these conditions, along with the accumulation of fallen needles and branches, an important factor in the fire hazard is also the role of the live ground cover. It has been found that the development of new methodology for assessing fire danger is of significant importance for effective prevention of forest fires, which should be based not only on physical principles of fire break-out and spread but also on forest site conditions. One of the key aspects is examination the forest types in Ukraine and their relationship with the risk of forest fires. Based on experimental studies, the inflammability of herbaceous and moss plants within the Small Polissia region has been identified. Fire-prone species include 14 herbaceous plants from the Poaceae family (Dactylis glomerata L., Koeleria glauca (Spreng.) DC., Stipa johannis Cel., Festuca ovina L., Calamagrostis epigeios (L.) Roth., Dianthus arenarius L., Calamagrostis arundinacea (L.) Roth, Brachypodiun pinnatum P.B., Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench, Melica nutans L., Milium effusum L., Phleum phleoides Sm., Poa nemoralis L., Deschampsia cespitosa L.), 11 from the Cyperaceae family (Carex limosa L., Carex inflata Huds, Carex pilosa Scop., Carex acutiformis Ehrh., Carex brevicollis D.C., Carex sylvastica Huds., Carex pseudocyperus L, Carex vesicaria L., Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh., Carex melanostachya M.B., Eriophorum vaginatum L.), 4 herbaceous plants from the Ericaceae family (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., Vaccinium uliginosum L., Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccínium myrtillus L.); 5 mosses (Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., Dicranum undulatum Ehrh., Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. Ex Brid., Ptilium crista-casterensis (Hedw.) De Not, Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach.), lichens of the genus Cladonia Nyl. and Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill.
The greatest representation of fire-prone species was observed in dry pine forests (A1), where out of 11 species, 8 have a high inflammability. These species are mostly grasses. In other forest conditions, this feature is not as pronounced. As humidity and nutrient levels increase, the number of less flammable and fire-resistant plants grows, while the number of fire-prone species decreases. However, regardless of their group, all plants in dry conditions easily catch fire during droughts. A significant representation of fire-prone species is also characteristic of wet and moist hygrotopes. Using the list of forest types by B.F. Ostapenko and V.P. Tkach (2002), the natural fire danger of pine forests was assessed. In doing so, ecological characteristics of vegetation of different forest types that have formed in the plains of Ukraine were taken into account, as well as the relationship between forest conditions and forest vegetation as combustible material to fire danger. The dependence of natural fire danger on forest typological features of stands, determined by the composition of tree species, litter stock, and density of live ground cover, has been investigated. Experimental studies of the burning of grassy and mossy plants within the Small Polissya region confirmed the presence of fire-prone species, especially in dry pine forests (A1) and revealed the ability of certain plants to quickly catch fire and support burning. The results of the research made it possible to assign forest types to five classes of fire danger, as well as to improve the scale for assessing the natural fire danger of forest fund plots, considering forest types as inflammable objects. These data are crucial for the development of effective strategies to prevent and extinguish forest fires, these strategies being aimed at preserving natural ecosystems and protecting the environment. |
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| ISSN: | 1991-606X 2616-5015 |