Optimal regimes of prescribed burning in forest plantations in the presence of risk of wildfires in the southeastern United States

Abstract

We examine the optimal timing of prescribed burning and its effect on the optimal forest management of a forest plantation under wildfire risk in the southeastern United States. Based on the frequency of prescribed fires and wildfire risk, we define different management regimes, assuming that the forest stand can be completely destroyed and partially destroyed–considering a salvage rate of k = 15% and 30%– after a wildfire. Our results indicate that more intensive forest management requires more prescribed fires, resulting in higher costs of prescribed burning. In scenarios with low, medium, and high levels of management intensity, the fully destroyed stand requires 6, 12, and 16 prescribed fires, with costs of $150.4, $168.8, and $264.5 acre−1, respectively. The partially destroyed stand requires 6, 12, and 21 prescribed fires with costs of $89.1(k = 0.15) and $86.9(k = 0.3), $180.5(k = 0.15) and $227.1 (k = 0.3), and $326.8(k = 0.15) and $326.1(k = 0.3) acre−1. The economic rents associated with prescribed burning are relatively small, with most of the changes being driven by the reduction of wildfire risk. Without risk of wildfires, prescribed fires might not be necessary. In such cases, the use of herbicides or a combination of prescribed burning and herbicides could be more appropriate.