Restoration treatment effects on stand structure, tree growth, and fire hazard in a ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest in Montana

Published source details Fiedler C.E., Metlen K.L. & Dodson E.K. (2010) Restoration treatment effects on stand structure, tree growth, and fire hazard in a ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forest in Montana. Forest Science, 56, 18-31.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Thin trees within forests: effects on young trees Action Link
	Use prescribed fire: effects on mature trees Action Link
	Use prescribed fire: effects on young trees Action Link
	Thin trees within forests: effects on mature trees Action Link

Thin trees within forests: effects on young trees

A replicated, controlled study in 2001-2005 in temperate coniferous forest in Montana, USA (Fiedler, Metlen & Dodson 2010) found that thinning decreased tree sapling density. The density of tree-saplings >0.1 and <10 cm diameter at breast height was lower in thinned (5,293 stems/ha) than in unthinned plots (11,483 stems/ha). Data were collected in 2003-2005 in ten 0.1 ha plots in each of three replicates of thinned (low thinning and improvement/selection cutting) and unthinned 9 ha treatment units. Thinning was conducted in winter 2001.
Use prescribed fire: effects on mature trees

A replicated, controlled, randomized study in 2001-2005 in temperate coniferous forest in Montana, USA (Fiedler, Metlen & Dodson 2010) found no effect of prescribed fire on trees density and basal area. Density of trees (burned: 386; control: 400/ha) and tree basal area (burned: 22; control: 25 m²/ha) were similar between treatments. Data were collected in 2005 in ten 0.1 ha plots in each of three replicates of burned (prescribed broadcast burning in spring 2002) and control (unburned) treatments.
Use prescribed fire: effects on young trees

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2001-2005 in temperate coniferous forest in Montana, USA (Fiedler, Metlen & Dodson 2010) found that prescribed fire decreased tree saplings density. The density of saplings between 0.1 to 10 cm diameter at breast height was lower in burned plots (burned: 6,550; control: 11,483/ha). Data were collected in 2003 in ten 0.1 ha plots in each of three replicates of burned (prescribed broadcast burning in spring 2002) and unburned treatments.
Thin trees within forests: effects on mature trees

A replicated, controlled study in 2001-2005 in temperate coniferous forest in Montana, USA (Fiedler, Metlen & Dodson 2010) found that thinning decreased trees density and basal area. Density (thinned: 157 trees/ha; unthinned: 400 trees/ha) and basal area (thinned: 12 m²/ha; unthinned: 25 m²/ha) of trees >10 cm diameter at breast height was lower in thinned than in unthinned plots. Data were collected in 2003-2005 in ten 0.1 ha plots in each of three replicates of thinned (low thinning and improvement/selection cutting) and unthinned 9 ha treatment units. Thinning was conducted in winter 2001.