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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (12): 135-145.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240806

• Research papers • Previous Articles    

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Mechanical Clearance of Combustible Materials on Both Sides of Forest Roads on Reducing Wildfire Risk: a Case Study in Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm

Kaida Yan1,Nuanyang Zhou1,Liqing Si1,Fengjun Zhao1,*(),Jianhua Zhang2,Quancheng Zou3,Zhijie Peng2,Dong Han2,Jiannan Xu3,Xiaoxiao Li1,Shiyuan Zhang1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. Saihanba Mechanized Forest Farm Weichang 068466
    3. Academy of Inventory and Planning ofNational Forestry and Grassland Administration Beijing 100714
  • Received:2024-12-31 Revised:2025-03-21 Online:2025-12-25 Published:2026-01-08
  • Contact: Fengjun Zhao E-mail:zhaofj@caf.ac.cn

Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mechanically removing highly flammable fine fuels on both sides of the road in reducing wildfire risk, and to investigate the mechanisms through which this practice influences fire behavior. The findings are intended to provide theoretical and data-driven support for developing scientific fuel management strategies. Method: Prior to the autumn fire prevention period in the Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm, field plot surveys and laboratory experiments were conducted to measure key fuel parameters (e.g., height, load, moisture content) before and after mechanical removal. The BehavePlus fire behavior modeling system was used to simulate potential fire behavior characteristics before and after removal in various environmental scenarios. Result: Firstly, the mechanical removal treatment was highly effective. The average fuel height along the roadsides was significantly reduced from 0.65 m to 0.18 m. Fuel load decreased by more than 50% in nearly 60% of the sample plots. Secondly, the removal operation directly led to a sharp decline in all fire behavior indicators. The average rates of decrease for surface fire rate of spread, heat per unit area, fireline intensity, and flame length reached 73.00%, 43.75%, 84.81%, and 57.98%, respectively. Notably, the mitigating effect on fire behavior was more pronounced in areas with initially higher fuel heights (e.g., 1.0 m), where the reduction in key fire behavior indicators could exceed 95%. Furthermore, the practice of subsequently clearing the mowed fuels away had superior risk reduction compared to simply mowing without removal. Model simulations also confirms that mechanical removal significantly suppresses fire behavior even under extreme environmental conditions characterized by high wind speed, low fuel moisture content, and steep slopes. Conclusion: Mechanical removal effectively reduces the height and load of flammable fine fuels both sides of forest roads, thereby significantly inhibiting potential fire behavior and lowering wildfire risk. For future management, it is recommended to flexibly adjust the intensity and timing of removal operations based on regional ecological characteristics to achieve the dual objectives of minimizing wildfire risk and maintaining ecosystem stability.

Key words: forest roads, fuel management, fine fuels, extreme fire environment, mechanical removal, fire behavior, BehavePlus

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