Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2010, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 741-752.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.06.013

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Contemporary studies and future perspectives of forest fuel and fuel management

HE Hong-Shi1,2,*(), CHANG Yu1, HU Yuan-Man1, LIU Zhi-Hua1,3   

  1. 1Shenyang Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
    2School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia MO 65211 USA
    3Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2008-10-08 Accepted:2009-04-23 Online:2010-10-08 Published:2010-06-01
  • Contact: HE Hong-Shi

Abstract:

Fuel is the basic component of forest ecosystems. It is one of the most important factors that influence forest fire ignition and fire severity. Hence, it has drawn much attention from researchers worldwide. We reviewed the current status of forest fuel studies from four aspects: 1) forest fuel properties, including physical and chemical properties, and flammability of forest fuels, 2) fuel models and fire behaviors, 3) methodologies for inventory and mapping of fuel types and fuel loads, and 4) forest fuel management. We also discuss the future direction in forest fuel studies, including 1) forest fuel studies at site, regional, and country-wide scales, 2) fuel models and fire behaviors, 3) combining observational and experimental studies with computer simulation and spatial analysis technologies for long-term predictions of fuel treatment effects over large landscapes, and 4) fuel treatment and carbon budget under global climate change. There are significant implications for forest fire management and forest fuel research in China.

Key words: forest fire, forest fuel, forest fuel management