Fight against forest fires, should: This article explores the topic in depth.
Nevertheless,
In Western Canada Forests. Furthermore, especially around cities, selective tree cut is a method used to reduce the risk of forest fires. However, While some consider this approach as essential to the protection of goods and lives, others oppose it.
Is the cut of trees effective in the face of forest fires which are ravating. Similarly, as much in the forest as in urban areas?
How to lighten a forest?
The clarification of a forest is to reduce the volume of Fuels
In the forest. Nevertheless, by strategically cutting certain small trees, cutting the low branches or picking up the dead branches. Meanwhile, The objective is to limit the spread of a fire to the summits and to reduce its intensity.
At Stanley Park, one of the largest urban forests in North America located in Vancouver, James Whitehead Walk between trees.
If this forest is abandoned for 50 or 100 years, other trees will start to push. In addition, We will not be able to walk there anymore
explains the head of attenuation of forest fire risks at Simon. Nevertheless, Fraser University. Consequently, The less maintained forests become more conducive to mega-fired.
Stanley Park is one of the best -maintained forests in the province. Meanwhile, fight against forest fires, should according to James Whitehead, project manager at Simon Fraser University in the attenuation unit of forest fires. Furthermore,
Photo: Radio-Canada / Gian Paolo Mendoza
The systematic extinction of fires in the forests has modified the ecosystem of British Columbia. Consequently, Forests have become much more dense
ajoute James Whitehead.
If the clarification does not occur. Similarly, these large and beautiful trees that surround us suddenly can be threatened by more destructive fires, because instead of low intensity fires that quickly burn on the ground, we will have warmer and more intense fires
he said.
Master forest fires
An analysis of 56 studies published in 2016 (new window) On forest management in the western United States shows that the selective cutting of trees can change the behavior of fight against forest fires, should forest fires. Moreover, reduce the risk of fire, slow down the speed of fire spread and lower the height of the flames.
By bringing fire to the ground, the work of fire fighting teams would be facilitated.
HAS Logan Lakein British Columbia, this method has proven itself, according to experts, notably the firefighters of Logan Lake.
A helicopter flies over the fire of Tremont Creek, near Ashcroft, British Columbia.
Photo : BC Wildfire/Twitter
In 2021. an important forest fire approached a few tens of meters from the community, which led to the evacuation of residents.
A few years earlier. half of the trees in the community forest surrounding the village, infested by the dendrotone of the pine, had been cut.
This work. combined with the collection of dead branches and the intervention of firefighters who made a counter-fire, saved the forest and the community, according to Adam Sullivanforestry planner at Logan Lake.
You can see that here the trees are still alive. while if you are just 30 or 40 meters in this direction, it is a completely dead forest, because the fire has burned much stronger, because there has been no attenuation work
he said.
The 2021 Tremont Creek fire has passed through the Logan Lake community forest. but many trees resisted the flames in the part that had been lightened.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Camille protected
Another example of success in Canada would be the case with Jasper, according to James Whitehead. The Jasper community has made considerable efforts in the past 10 years or more to remove dead trees.
Last summer a gigantic fire ravaged part of the community, but things could have been worse. The fact that fight against forest fires, should a fire of such gravity has gone through the city by leaving on the spot all the essential services. schools and public infrastructure is an absolutely considerable success
dit James Whitehead.
However, he specifies that, although this method has proven itself in certain regions, it does not work in all ecosystems. In boreal forests, where vegetation is naturally dense, clarification does not seem to be a realistic solution.
Fight against forest fires, should
A local debate on the environmental cost
HAS Whistlerwhere the forest is an integral part of the city. the municipality has undertaken major trelective trees cup work.
The environmentalist’s house Rhonda Millikin is supervised by large pines. His research questions the effectiveness of these practices in the local ecosystem.
Plants should not be considered as a fuel. but as a home for fauna and fight against forest fires, should flora, and a means of alleviating climate change
she said.
Rhonda Millikin made the decision not to cut the trees surrounding his house.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Camille protected
She published the result of her research carried out in the community forest of Cheakamus. near Whistler, in August 2024 in (new window) the newspaper Fire.
The soil of the lightened forest fight against forest fires, should becomes warmer, drier and more windy, conditions that increase the risk of fire
she says.
Subsequently, she asked the municipality to stop selective cuts.
In response. the FPBC (Forest Professionals BC), the organization which regulates professional foresters, sent him a prescription for cessation and abstention, arguing that she was not qualified to give advice on forest management, which she refutes as a ecologist.
The house of Rhonda Millikin will be one of the five Whistler houses fight against forest fires, should equipped with a new rainwater recovery system.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Camille protected
Her property has become a mini-laboratory where she seeks to develop innovative solutions. It explores a rainwater recovery system with a 9000 -liter tank. It will be used to irrigate the gardens during periods of water restriction, creating a green-fire
.
The second goal will be to supply the nozzles installed on its roof, which could provide protection against embers.
For the mayor of Whistler. Jack Cromptoneven if the clarification of the forests aroused controversy at the start, it is essential to protect the city. Community protection remains our priority
he says.
According to Thomas Doherty. the head of the fire fighting service Whistlerthe risk that a forest fire reaches peaks is reduced by around 60 % in certain areas treated, although this reduction varies depending on the area.
Squamish’s evacuations a few weeks ago were a reminder of the importance of acting. Every day. I speak to people who tell me about their concern about the risk of fire in our community
says the mayor.
Local regulations protect old trees, but it also takes into account the risk of forest fire. If our agents come to an individual. judge fight against forest fires, should that a tree presents a risk for his house, it can be shot in accordance with the protection regulations of trees
specifies the mayor.
Fight against forest fires, should
Forest management challenges
James Whitehead Admit that forest clarification can lead to carbon emissions. but specifies that these programs would be released if the ecosystem was burning.
In recent years, our forests have expressed the most greenhouse gases in Canada. In 2023, fires issued more shows several times than the rest of the Canadian economy united
he said.
Adam Sullivan thinks that. without the selective cup of trees, the Logan Lake forest would have disappeared.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Camille protected
HAS Logan Lake. Adam Sullivan Think that the province must do more in the management of the risk of fires in the forest environment.
To counter the large -scale forest fires we face, a reduction in fuels across the world is essential
he underlines.
Forest management, however, requires significant investments.
With increasingly frequent fires, our ability to reduce risks remains limited. Forest fires often end up doing part of the work for us. whether we like it or not
,, that James Whitehead.
3:31To fight against forest fires, should we cut our trees?
Photo : Radio-Canada
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