Oregon
UO study finds Oregon Cascade forests burned more often than assumed, even in wet zones
EUGENE, Ore. — A study out of the University of Oregon is challenging a common belief about wildfires in Oregon.
Despite being so wet, researchers say forests along the Oregon Cascade Range saw a lot more fires than originally thought.
The study is the first to use tree ring scars to examine fire activity going back to the 1300s.
UO study finds Oregon Cascade forests burned more often than assumed, even in wet zones
The study shows that Douglas fir forests saw repeated low- and moderate-severity fires over decades, which actually created gaps in the tree canopy and allowed the growth of the forests we have today.
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The study may eventually help with forest management and fire mitigation, but for now the study’s author says it brings up more questions than answers.