Disturbance History In The Tanana River Basin Of Alaska: Management Implications

Abstract

The forests of Tanana River Basin in Interior Alaska have a history of disturbance. Four issues reflecting forest disturbance, important to include in current management strategies for these lands, were researched: (1) disturbance history of the Tanana Valley; (2) Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan: a case study; (3) prescribed natural fire in Alaska: possibilities and complexities; and (4) past use of prescribed fire in white spruce: a summary with particular reference to Alaska. Through researching historical archives, conducting field visits, interviewing land and fire managers and reviewing current planning documents, I reached four major conclusions: (1) there is lack of use of historical facts regarding human-induced changes on the landscapes; (2) past involvement of public stakeholders in fire planning in Alaska was inadequate; (3) the Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plans need to identify scientific prescription parameters which address specific land management objectives; and (4) management-ignited prescribed fire must become a more common prescription after harvesting of white spruce. <p>