Evaluation of fuel load following fire in Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations using line sampling and of FLM method (Case study: Takhsam plantations in Guilan Province)

The occurrence of fire in natural ecosystems depends on the prevailing meteorological conditions, the availability of ignition material and the quantity and characteristics of fuel biomass. The rate at which fuels accumulate is a crucial determinant of fire regimes. Woody debris in the forest and herbaceous cover are also important determinants of the severity of the fire. Therefore particular fuel management is required for improved understanding and awareness on the amount of fuel, fuel diameter classes and required spatial and temporal fuel condition. Coniferous plantations located in Saravan and Lacan located in the vicinity of Rasht metropolitan area are amongst the most fire sensitive areas within Guilan province. To determine the amount of accumulated fuel and the degree of their proneness to fire risk, forest plantation area of Takhsam in Lakan was investigated. To this aim, we used the transect sampling and the FLM method. The results showed that the fuel load in loblolly pine plantation accounts for 3.89 tons per hectare and vary in different diameter classes. This amount of fuel is not presumable to impose high wildfire risks for severe fire events. However, if combined with the existing herbaceous cover, a higher proneness to severe wildfire can be expected.