Use of Prescribed Fire for Vegetation Management

Of the 110 000 to 180 000 hectares per year on which prescribed burning has recently been conducted in Canada, 70 000 to 150 000 hectares per year (mostly in British Columbia) has been burned for vegetation management purposes. Such purposes include silviculture, control of plant parasites, promotion of desirable plant species, and conservation of natural ecosystems. The emphasis of prescribed burning is shifting from burning slash to burning living vegetation. As a result, forest managers should be aware of our current knowledge of all types of prescribed burning for vegetation management purposes. This knowledge is discussed in this paper, emphasizing British Columbian examples where possible. Before fire can be used for vegetation management purposes, one must understand how vegetation responds to fire, and determine whether or not prescribed fire is the most desirable treatment. The response of vegetation to fire depends primarily on fire severity, the ecosystem, and plant morphology and condition. The procedure for determining whether or not prescribed fire should be used for vegetation management purposes involves five steps: 1. Evaluation of the pretreatment vegetation