Deforested Condition Trends
Threat of Deforested Conditions in CA National Forests
| Overview | Deforested Condition Trends | Reforestation Trends |
| Glossary | Methods | Grouping Logic | Veg Maps |
Selected Fires: Explanatory Notes | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Assessment of Potential Reforestation Needs 2000-2015
We analyzed large wildfires that burned more than 1,000 acres of forestland (land that grows trees) on National Forest in California over a 16 year period 2000-2015; those fires totaled 5,282,273 acres burned. Of the total acres burned on National Forests, about 613,781 acres (25%) potentially needs or could be planted. This analysis indicates an average annual planting program of 14,293 acres and an average annual natural regeneration survey program of 2,176 acres. Natural regeneration may or may not prove to be appropriate for the sites into the future given the uncertainties of climate change. The range of variation in deforested condition created by wildfire year to year is high. Potential planting need in a given year ranged from 0 to 92,300 acres during the 16 year period.
Trend Chart - Deforested Condition and Planting Needs After Selected Fires
Year | Deforested | Max Planting Need | Total Acres All Ownership Burned |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | 14,808 | 2,370 | 53,210 |
2001 | 28,186 | 24,686 | 91,073 |
2002 | 18,176 | 16,392 | 494,680 |
2003 | 30,076 | 28,835 | 446,901 |
2004 | 16,188 | 15,499 | 61,629 |
2005 | 1,167 | 2 | 23,613 |
2006 | 17,949 | 8,095 | 349,109 |
2007 | 107,585 | 77,043 | 538,207 |
2008 | 157,262 | 86,963 | 1,149,643 |
2009 | 41,812 | 33,897 | 303,807 |
2010 | 3,387 | 3,053 | 36,028 |
2011 | 7,873 | 2,199 | 24,874 |
2012 | 59,749 | 54,424 | 348,626 |
2013 | 84,134 | 75,155 | 431,185 |
2014 | 100,809 | 92,301 | 386,138 |
2015 | 101,529 | 72,292 | 461,093 |
Data Table - Summary of Vegetation Conditions After Selected Wildfires
vegetation type | treatments NOT permitted | treatments permitted | treatments permitted | total within fire perimeter | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
deforested condition | forested condition | deforested condition | forested condition | deforested condition | forested condition | ||
steep ground ( > 30 % slope) |
flat ground ( < 30 % slope) |
||||||
Alpine | 4,992 | 7,185 | 10,617 | 5,994 | 5,550 | 3,131 | 37,468 |
True Fir | 30,109 | 118,050 | 14,182 | 35,978 | 12,810 | 28,410 | 239,539 |
Pine | 12,147 | 21,452 | 32,804 | 49,580 | 75,357 | 60,927 | 252,268 |
Douglas -fir | 26,011 | 194,994 | 74,446 | 364,252 | 19,212 | 89,233 | 768,147 |
Mixed Conifer | 44,977 | 115,125 | 108,807 | 190,102 | 109,222 | 147,606 | 715,840 |
Closed Cone Conifers | 11,429 | 11,608 | 8,408 | 6,498 | 7,833 | 5,487 | 51,263 |
Coastal Conifer / Cypress | 170 | 241 | 143 | 74 | 84 | 63 | 775 |
Pinyon- Juniper | 10,111 | 2,837 | 10,397 | 5,123 | 17,796 | 6,110 | 52,374 |
Hardwood | 70,002 | 84,028 | 80,863 | 102,750 | 25,250 | 21,578 | 384,472 |
Sub Total | 209,949 | 555,520 | 340,667 | 760,352 | 273,114 | 362,544 | 2,502,146 |
shrub / non-forest | 1,063,402 | ||||||
other ownership | 1,716,725 | ||||||
total | 5,282,273 |
Chart - How much of the burned area was National Forest?
Lands Ownership | Acres | Percent |
---|---|---|
National Forest | 3,565,548 | 68 % |
Other Ownership | 1,716,725 | 32 % |
Total | 5,282,273 | 100 % |
Chart - How much of the burned National Forest grew trees?
Vegetation Type | Acres | Percent |
---|---|---|
Forested Lands | 2,497,010 | 70 % |
Shrubland / Grassland / Desert | 1,063,395 | 30 % |
Total | 3,560,405 | 100 % |
Chart - Of the burned National Forest that grew trees, how much of it turned into a deforested condition after the wildfire? And how much of it was in areas where treatments were permitted?
Condition | Acres | Percent | Replanting? |
---|---|---|---|
Deforested Wilderness, ect | 209,949 | 8 % | Treatment Not Permitted |
Forested - Wilderness, ect | 555,520 | 22 % | Treatment Not Permitted |
Forested - Not Wilderness, ect | 1,122,896 | 45 % | Treatment Permitted |
Deforested - Not Wilderness, ect | 613,781 | 25 % | Treatment Permitted |
Chart - Of the burned National Forest where treatments were permitted what were the tree vegetation types affected?
Vegetation Type | Acres deforested where treatments are permitted | Percent |
---|---|---|
Alpine | 16,167 | 3 % |
Closed Cone Conifers | 16,241 | 3 % |
True Fir | 26,992 | 4 % |
Pinyon -Juniper | 28,193 | 5 % |
Douglas -fir | 93,658 | 15 % |
Hardwood | 106,113 | 17 % |
Pine | 108,161 | 18 % |
Mixed Conifer | 218,029 | 35 % |
Total | 613,781 | 100 % |
Data Tables - Potential Reforestation Need in Acres
It is a general practice to not consider planting hardwood, pinyon-juniper, or closed cone conifer types. Given this generality, it may be broadly concluded that 15 years of fire has resulted in the following potential reforestation need.
Vegetation Type | Steep Ground ( > 30 % slope) |
Flat Ground ( < 30 % slope) |
Total | Regeneration |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alpine | 10,617 | 5,550 | 16,167 | Plant |
True Fir | 14,182 | 12,810 | 26,992 | Plant |
Pine | 32,804 | 75,357 | 108,161 | Plant |
Douglas-fir | 74,446 | 19,212 | 93,658 | Plant |
Mixed Conifer | 108,807 | 109,222 | 218,029 | Plant |
Closed Cone Conifers | 8,408 | 7,833 | 16,241 | Natural |
Pinyon-Juniper | 10,397 | 17,796 | 28,193 | Natural |
Hardwood | 80,863 | 25,250 | 106,113 | Natural |
Total | 340,667 | 273,114 | 613,781 |
Potential Reforestation Needs | Steep Ground ( > 30 % slope) |
Flat Ground ( < 30 % slope) |
Total |
---|---|---|---|
Planting Need (from 2000-2015) | 240,856 | 222,151 | 463,007 |
Natural Regeneration Need (from 2000-2015) | 99,668 | 50,879 | 150,547 |
Average Acres to be Planted (per year) | 16,057 | 14,810 | 30,867 |
Average Natural Regeneration Certified (per year) | 6,645 | 3,392 | 10,036 |