Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science

In tegrated assessment of forest fuel load is the basis for planning of fire prevention measures, while their classification is necessary for fire risk prediction and fire hazard assessment. The paper presents the results of study of fuel load in Scots pine stands in the fresh and humid site types in the western Polissya of Ukraine, particularly in Rivne oblast. Large and very large forest and peat fires regularly occur in the area burning up to 1000–2000 and more ha annually. In some cases, fires cross the border between Ukraine and Republic Belarus. So, developing fuel model for the region is an important step towards better fire management for both countries. For the purpose of this research forest fuel groups were used according to Kurbatsky’s classification (I - mosses, lichens and small plant residues; II - forest litter; III - herbaceous vegetation and semi-shrubs). The results show an increase in the average stock of group II of fuel in pine stands from 42.9 t·ha-1 in young forests (till 40 years old) to 99.5 t·ha-1 in mature and overmatured stands. The average value of the stock of group I of fuel in stands of all age ranges from 7.70–9.36 t·ha-1. The average value of the stock of fuels of group III is 1.2 t·ha-1. It has been found that the absolute values of fuel load are increasing with age increase, while relative values of load for different groups indicate their stability with age: group I is 13.4 %, group II – 85.2 % and in group III – 1.4 %. The study has found that the stock of cones fluctuates within 0.7–1.5 t·ha-1, maximum values are observed in mature and overmatured stands. The essential forest fuels load of group II creates pre-conditions for the development of intensive and hot forest fires during drought periods.

forest fuels, forest fires, fire danger, Western Polissya of Ukraine