Using logging machines to thin forests for fire reduction is largely ineffective according to a new study from the Australian National University (ANU).
The study, led by ANU researchers, compared fire severity in un-thinned versus thinned forests burned in the 2009 wildfires.
Lead author from the Fenner School of Environment and Society at ANU, Chris Taylor said thinning made very little difference to fire severity.
“The impact of thinning varied with forest type, the age of the forest and fire conditions,” Dr Taylor said.
“Across most forest types and ages, thinning had little impact on forest fire severity, although it did worsen severity in mixed species forest aged 70 years plus and did reduce it in mixed species forest aged 20-40 years,” he said.
“Overall, the evidence indicates thinning forests does not reduce fire risk.”
Dr Taylor said the study also found that a 20 to 40-year-old forest was more likely to suffer crown burn than a 70-year-old forest.
“A previous report found thinning of forests increased fire risk,” he said.
“And multiple previous studies have also found fire severity is lower in older, undisturbed and unlogged forests.”
Dr Taylor said previous Silvicultural Guides to control forest growth for Victoria and Tasmania had stated thinning would produce an increase in fire hazard due to high fuel loads.
The study report Does forest thinning reduce fire severity in Australian eucalypt forests? can be accessed at this PS News link.
