The concentration of these fine fuels on the forest floor increases the rate of spread of wildfires. The primary causative factors behind fire regime changes are effective fire prevention and suppression strategies, selection and regeneration cutting, domestic livestock grazing, and the introduction of exotic plants.
Many species depend on fires to improve habitat, recycle nutrients and maintain diverse habitats.
After a fire, charred trees are often targeted by timber companies claiming that the wood will go to waste if it is not removed. But fallen trees provide critical habitat for birds and small mammals, help stabilize shifting soil and eventually release nutrients back into the forest floor. There is considerable evidence that persistent, significant adverse environmental impacts are likely to result from salvage logging. Read excerpts of the report on the Friends of the Bitterroot website.