Managing pine forest ecosystems after fire: The need of being proactive under future uncertainty

Abstract

Wildfires are crucial in shaping forest ecosystems globally, influencing structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. However, the interaction of climate change, reduced grazing, fuel accumulation, and human-caused ignitions has led to a worldwide increase in wildfire frequency and severity. This intensifies fire events and transforms forest structures, favoring more severe, landscape-scale wildfires, particularly in fire-prone regions. These changes, coupled with climate change, can push ecosystems beyond their recovery capacity, potentially leading to shifts from forests to non-forested ecosystems and the loss of essential ecosystem services. Effective post-fire forest management is critical for ecosystem recovery and resilience, especially under a changing climate. While natural regeneration can occur, many ecosystems are transitioning to non-forest or deciduous-dominated states after severe fires. The resistance-resilience-transition (RRT) framework offers adaptive strategies: resistance aims to preserve existing conditions, resilience focuses on returning to a prior state after disturbance, and transition involves guiding ecosystems toward new, stable conditions better adapted to future stressors. Implementing these strategies, alongside ongoing research and community engagement, is vital for ensuring long-term sustainability of wildfire-affected landscapes and the ecosystem services they provide.