Embedded Files
Planning cards to view fuel break benefit options, lay out options spatially, and sort through ideas during your planning process.
DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD
Non-Motorized Trails
Non-Motorized Trails
WHAT Provide non-motorized recreation opportunities.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide trails for skiing, biking, hiking, and other non-motorized recreation for exercise and transportation that will not create noise pollution.
WHERE Areas where noise reduction is a priority (near residential area) and soils are firm/dry.
HOW Build trail through thinned or cleared fuel breaks.
EXAMPLE Campbell Tract, Anchorage, Alaska.
Motorized Trails
Motorized Trails
WHAT Provide motorized recreation opportunities.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide trails for snowmobile/ATV, access for hunting, and other motorized recreation and transportation.
WHERE High fire risk areas where noise and conflict between user groups are not a concern. Areas where permafrost, erosion, and wildlife disturbance are not a concern.
HOW Connect cleared fuel breaks with access.
EXAMPLE Copper Haul Road, Whitehorse, Yukon.
Winter Sports & Recreation
Winter Sports & Recreation
WHAT Provide areas for winter sports, e.g. cross-country and downhill skiing, luge track.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide new opportunities for sports and recreation, potential training for professional sports.
WHERE Cleared or thinned fuel breaks near communities. Locations suitable for activity.
HOW Clear or thin fuel break. Collaborate with local recreation groups and/or schools.
EXAMPLE Whitehorse, Yukon; Anchorage, Alaska.
Fire Research & Training
Fire Research & Training
WHAT Fire science research, training, and education.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide opportunities for fire science research, testing fuel treatment efficacy, and expanding training and education.
WHERE Areas suitable for activity.
HOW Collaborate with universities or other partners. Collaborate with residents, management agencies, and research entities for risk reduction.
EXAMPLE Multiple locations.
Academic Research & Education
Academic Research & Education
WHAT Plant ecology research and education.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide opportunities for plant ecology research, testing plants responses to fuel treatment below ground and above ground changes, and expanding knowledge.
WHERE Areas that address knowledge gaps.
HOW Collaborate with universities or other partners.
EXAMPLE Fairbanks, Alaska.
Youth & Community Education
Youth & Community Education
WHAT Ecological and wildfire education for the public.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide opportunities for youth and community members to learn more about their local ecosystem and the role of fire.
WHERE Areas suitable to the activity.
HOW Collaborate with schools, education or environmental non-profits, universities or other partners.
EXAMPLE Fairbanks, Alaska.
Planting Deciduous Forest
Planting Deciduous Forest
WHAT Deciduous tree planting to replace conifers.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND support wildlife habitat, support local food system, prevent erosion, stabilize and build soil, decrease flooding, store carbon.
WHERE Thinned or cleared areas with limited or no deciduous component in the forest stand.
HOW Conifer removal followed by tree planting.
EXAMPLE Whitehorse, Yukon and Teslin, Yukon.
Thinning to Promote Deciduous Forest
Thinning to Promote Deciduous Forest
WHAT Thin to promote deciduous forest.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND support wildlife habitat, provide food and fuel, prevent erosion, stabilize and build soil, decrease flooding, store carbon.
WHERE Forests with a mix of conifer and deciduous trees.
HOW Conifer removal with deciduous retention.
EXAMPLE Campbell Tract, Anchorage, Alaska.
Promoting Shrubs
Promoting Shrubs
WHAT Conversion to shrubland.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND support wildlife habitat, provide food and fuel, prevent erosion, stabilize and build soil, decrease flooding, store carbon, deter trespassing.
WHERE Moderate to dry soils, flat ground and hill slopes.
HOW Conifer removal with soil scarification followed by natural seeding, or retain existing shrubs.
EXAMPLE Teslin, Yukon.
Community Infrastructure
Community Infrastructure
WHAT Strategically place infrastructure that requires clearing, e.g. roads, airstrips, sports fields, playgrounds, grey water drainage, septic lagoon.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND enhance community well-being and/or services.
WHERE Close to communities, area suitable for infrastructure
HOW Clear fuel break, collaborate with residents and management agencies.
EXAMPLE Nenana, Alaska.
Summer Sports & Recreation
Summer Sports & Recreation
WHAT Provide areas for summer sports, e.g. disc golf fairways, golf course, driving ranges, sports fields, gun range.
WHY Reduce wildfire risk AND provide new opportunities for sports.
WHERE Cleared or thinned fuel breaks near communities.
HOW Clear or thin fuel break. Collaborate with local recreation groups and/or schools.
EXAMPLE Crocus Bluff, Dawson City, Yukon.
Large-scale Agriculture
Large-scale Agriculture
WHAT Large-scale agriculture and/or livestock grazing.
WHY Reduce flammability AND support local and market food systems, potential economic opportunities, forage for livestock.
WHERE Locations with good soils, close to communities.
HOW Clear forest, prepare soil for agricultural planting, collaborate with food producers.
EXAMPLE Whitestone, Alaska.
Small-Scale Food Production
Small-Scale Food Production
WHAT Small-scale agro-ecological growing and/or appropriate livestock.
WHY Reduce flammability AND support local food system and livelihoods, prevent erosion, stabilize and build soil.
WHERE Locations with good soils, close to communities.
HOW Clear or thin forest, prepare soil for planting, use local compost and other inputs if possible, collaborate with local food producers.
EXAMPLE Sambaa K’e, Northwest Territory.
Native Plant Foods and Medicines
Native Plant Foods and Medicines
WHAT Manage native vegetation for food, medicine, fuels and other uses.
WHY Reduce flammability AND support local food system and livelihoods, accessible gathering locations, opportunities for intergenerational knowledge transfer, support wildlife habitat, prevent erosion, stabilize and build soil.
WHERE Easily accessible to community, soils suitable for desired vegetation.
HOW Clear or thin forest, provide conditions to promote existing desired species and/or to transplant from another part of the bush.
EXAMPLE Kakisa, Northwest Territories; Teslin, Yukon.
Fuel Wood & Saw Logs
Fuel Wood & Saw Logs
WHAT Thin fuels and use cut wood for firewood, biomass burners, or saw logs.
WHY Reduce flammability AND support local wood needs and livelihoods while providing accessible harvesting locations.
WHERE Areas easily accessible to the community, soils suitable for harvesting and gathering wood
HOW Clear or thin forest, stockpiling wood for local use.
EXAMPLE Yukon FireSmart locations.
Promoting Wildlife Vegetation
Promoting Wildlife Vegetation
WHAT Regenerate vegetation for wildlife food species, e.g. aspen for moose browse.
WHY Reduce flammability AND support wildlife habitat, support local food system, prevent erosion, stabilize and build soil, decrease flooding, store carbon.
WHERE Soils that support desired vegetation.
HOW Methods suitable for desired vegetation (e.g. masticate or roller chop to promote hardwood regeneration), collaborate with local hunters and trappers.
EXAMPLE Sterling and Tok, Alaska.
Page updated
Report abuse