Prescribed burns impact in ponderosa pine trees in Patagonia: study case

GODOY, M. M.; SAGARZAZU, M. S.; BIANCHI, LUCAS O.; DEFOSSÉ, GUILLERMO EMILIO

Puerto Madryn

Congreso; 5th Plenary Meeting and 1er Simposio Sudamericano de Ecología y Manejo del Fuego; 2009

Ponderosa pine is the most planted species in the Patagonian steppe because of its adapation and high growth rates. The management of this pine requires thinning and prunning, leaving branches and needles on the ground. This increasies the fuel load and fire risk of afforestations. In two representative stands of the species we made prescribed burns to study at a plot level different parameters such as long term tree survival, changes in fuel load and damage in trees.