First name:
Hanspeter
Last name:
Liniger
The basic principle of a firebreak network is to split continuous forest areas (where a lot of fuel is built up) into smaller patches separated by vegetation-free strips in order to prevent large forest fires.
The combination of clearing of fire-prone seeder species and planting of more fire resistant resprouter species directs the vegetation to later successional stages which increases the resilience to fires.
Selective forest clearing aims in reducing the connectivity and the amount of (dead standing) fuel, as well as reducing the competition between regenerating pines, in order to prevent forest fires and to ensure the growth of a healthy forest.
