Thinning Effect on Fuel Load and Crown Fire Hazard: A Case Study of Pinus Densiflora in Goseong, Gangwon Province

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of forest management on forest fire fuel and forest fire spread. For this purpose, a wildfire prevention forest study site(intensity of 40%, 20%, control) was established in the Goseong, Gangwon province that is vulnerable to wildfires, and regular monitoring investigations were conducted. As a result of this study, the crown bulk density is thinning 40% 0.263kg/m3, thinning 20% 0.417kg/m3, and 0.530kg/m3 in the control, the lower the amount of crown fuel load. In high-strength treatment areas, the amount of shrub fuel composed of fire-resistant tree species increased by more than 17.6% compared to the first year as the amount of light transmission increased due to thinning. It is expected that this study can be used in various research such as forest fire risk assessment by forest management and creation of fire-resistant forest zones.