Alaska research team measured forest in fire recovery for 26th year

SNRAS crew at Reserve West after the measurement of the last tree. (Credit: UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences)

A team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks monitored the growth of a recovering forest for the 26th year, according to a UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences blog post.

Fire blazed through the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest in 1983, wiping out many 200-year-old white spruce trees that occupied a third of the forest.

Grasses and trees started sprouting within a few days of the fire burning out.

In 1988 researchers started tracking the forests recovery.  Now some of the trees are so tall the only way they can measure their heights is with a laser range finder. The team’s mechanical measuring systems no longer can reach the tree tops.

Image: SNRAS crew at Reserve West after the  measurement of the last tree. (Credit: UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences)