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 |

Conifer stand of snags about a year after a wildfire.

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

Column chart displaying deforest condition and planting needs after select fires for 2000 - 2015. Exact numbers listed in the corresponding data table.

Corresponding Data Table -
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

Summary of Vegetation Conditions after Selected Wildfires on National Forests in California (Acres) Calendar Years 2000-2015
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?

Pie chart: Comparison of other ownerships verses National Forests, burned in fires greater than 1000 acres for 2000-2015. Exact numbers listed in the corresponding data table

Corresponding Data Table -
Comparison Of Other Ownerships vs. National Forests, Burned In Fires Greater Than 1000 Acres For 2000-2015.
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?

Pie chart: Percentage of burned National Forest from 2000 - 2015. Exact numbers listed in the corresponding data table

Corresponding Data Table -
Percentage of burned National Forest from 2000 - 2015.
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?

Pie chart displaying post-fire conditions of National Forest, forested lands burned from 2000 2015. Exact numbers listed in the corresponding data table.

Corresponding Data Table -
Post-Fire Conditions of National Forest, Forested Lands Burned From 2000 2015.
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?

Pie chart based on the 613,781 acres of land in a deforested condition where treatments are permitted after the fires from 2000-2015. Exact numbers listed in the corresponding data table.

Corresponding Data Table -
Land in a Deforested Condition Where Treatments Are Permitted That Burned In 2000 - 2015.
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.

 
Land in a deforested condition after Selected Wildfires on National Forests in California Where Treatments are Permitted (Acres) 2000-2015
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 Need (Acres)
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