Documenting Fire History in a British Columbia Ecological Reserve

Don Gayton, FORREX

Abstract

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) ecosystems in British Columbia have high concentrations of biodiversity and species at risk, and numerous studies suggest frequent, low-in- tensity fire was a historical disturbance pattern in this ecosystem type. Fire history was analyzed in the Trout Creek Ecological Reserve near Summerland, BC, a 75 ha parcel in the PPxh1 biogeoclimatic variant. The area’s fire history spans from 1715 to 1952, with a mean area fire interval of 18 years. Fire management options are reviewed.

KEYWORDS: fire history;ponderos apine;ecological reserve

See the full PDF: Fire history Gayton 2013