• To characterize the pattern and dynamics of the vegetation mosaic in relation to fire in the historical landscape of McGregor Model Forest;
• To define and quantify historical wildfire size, pattern, and frequency in major biogeoclimatic zones of the forest, and determine how they are affected by topography.

DESCRIPTION:

Historically, fire had a major role as a renewal agent and shaper of ecological patterns and dynamics within the McGregor landscape.  Defining what "sustainability" means for this ecosystem requires an understanding of the range of conditions that were historically maintained by fire and of the magnitude of change wrought by management interventions today.

Project components included a literature-based synthesis paper on ecosystems found within the McGregor Model Forest; a fire history and mapping study of an area larger than the McGregor Model Forest (1.3 million ha) to provide a better understanding of the fire regime; and a GIS-based analysis of topographic effects.
 

REPORTS AND PRODUCTS:

• Interim Report: Fire in the SBS and ESSF biogeoclimatic zones of British Columbia, by Wendy Vasbinder, Chris Opio, Brad Hawkes, and Craig DeLong
• Report: Retrospective fire study: Fire regimes in the SBsvk and ESSKwk2/wc3 biogeoclimatic units of northeastern BC, by Brad Hawkes, Wendy Vasbinder, and Craig DeLong
• Report: Significant fire years in the Prince George area—a media perspective taken from the Prince George Citizen newspaper (1912-1961), by Brad Hawkes
• MSc Thesis: A study of topographic influences on the fire regime of selected SBS and ESSF subzones, by Wendy Vasbinder

CONTACTS:

Brad Hawkes, Canadian Forest Service (PFC)   506 West Burnside Rd., Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M5

Craig DeLong, BC Ministry of Forests, Prince George Forest Region, 1011 4th Avenue, Prince George, BC, V2L 3H9

Chris Opio, University of Northern British Columbia   3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9

Wendy Vasbinder, University of Northern British Columbia  3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9
 

PARTNERS:
Canadian Forest Service, University of Northern British Columbia, British Columbia Ministry of Forests