Abstract
The practice of removing fire-killed trees from burned forests (or “postfire salvage logging”) has sparked public controversy and scientific debate when conducted on public lands in the United States. This review synthesizes the current scientific literature on the subject, providing an update to a 2000 literature review (PNW-GTR-486) and subsequent synthesis (PNW-GTR-776). Forty-three published studies are reviewed, summarizing ecological effects on wildlife, vegetation, fuels, soils, and other environmental variables. Several key themes emerge from the review and specific research topics for future study are suggested. An annotated bibliography is provided at the conclusion of the document.
Keywords
Ecological effects,
fire,
fuel dynamics,
wildlife,
salvage,
soil erosion,
wildfire.
Citation
Nemens, Deborah G.; Varner, J. Morgan; Johnson, Morris C. 2019. Environmental effects of postfire logging: an updated literature review and annotated bibliography. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-975. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 35 p.
