Prescribed Fire Effects on Timber Quality and Regeneration Response in several Central Hardwood National Forests

Presenter: Dr. Michael Saunders, Purdue University

Date: January 23, 2024, 1:00 – 2:00 PM (central time)

Register here (required): https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ocOGrpj0vHNbO-DFGXzqk5ciWYRNF3OQj

Abstract: Prescribed fire in oak forests are perceived by many to be detrimental to timber values, despite its benefits for promoting oak regeneration and creating wildlife habitat.  Although there has been a great deal of research on wildfire damage, there have been few studies of prescribed fire damage to overstory stems when fire is being used a regeneration tool.  Fewer still relate the fire damage to the potential economic benefits of spurring oak regeneration.  I will describe a Joint Fire Sciences-funded, regional study of over 120 sites across four national forests where both timber damage and regeneration response to prescribed fire was quantified.