Essential guides for understanding post-fire forest management and recovery planning:
Post-Fire Considerations for Landowners
Published: August 2023
Focus: Immediate post-fire considerations with essential first steps for landowners. Provides overview of priorities and available resources.
Recovering from Wildfire: A Guide for California's Forest Landowners
Published: August 2017
Focus: Comprehensive recovery guide covering all aspects of post-fire forest management, from initial assessment through long-term restoration strategies.
Factsheet Series: Quick Guides to Post-Fire Management
The Post-Fire Forest Resilience team and subject matter experts, designed, wrote and reviewed these factsheets between 2022-2025. Content summarized key learning points from a variety of sources.
Managing Competing Vegetation After High Severity Wildfire
Focus: Control methods for vegetation that may compete with forest regeneration (invasive species, shrubs, vines)
Managing Competing Vegetation with Herbicide
Focus: Herbicide use and safety for reforestation efforts
Post-Fire Erosion Control: Mitigating Hillslope Erosion
Focus: Preventing soil loss and protecting water quality after wildfire
Recommendations for Managing Oak and Hardwood Resprouts
Focus: Management strategies for resprouting hardwood species
Using Prescribed Fire to Build Forest Resilience
Focus: Utilizing fire for long-term forest health
- Document
Focus: Methods for evaluating fire impacts on soil properties and erosion potential
Post-Fire Mechanical Treatments for Reforestation: Managing Fuel Loads and Competing Vegetation
Focus: Use of heavy machinery or large equipment for reforestation site preparation and vegetation management
A Guide to Photo Monitoring
Focus: Establishing photo points to document recovery and managment effectiveness over time
Additional Resources:
Planning and Assessment
Forest Stewardship #7: Forest Regeneration
Focus: Comprehensive guide to forest regeneration principles, including site preparation, species selection, planting techniques, and early stand management.Forest Stewardship #25: Climate Change
Focus: Adapting reforestation practices to climate change, including species selection for future conditions and building climate resilience.Reforestation Practices for Conifers in California - Chapter 3
Published: October 2020
Focus: Detailed technical guidance on conifer reforestation including site assessment, seedling selection, and establishment practices specific to California conditions.
Implementation Resources
Forest Stewardship #6: Forest Vegetation Management
Focus: Managing vegetation to ensure successful seedling establishment and growth, including competition control methods and timing.Reforestation Practices for Conifers in California - Chapter 8
Published: October 2020
Focus: Vegetation management strategies specific to reforestation sites, including mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods.Field Guide: Weeds, Forages and Natives of the Central Sierra Nevada
Focus: Identification guide for common plants in reforestation areas, helping land managers distinguish between beneficial native species and problematic weeds.Post-fire Grazing in Intermountain Ranges
Focus: Guidelines for integrating livestock grazing with reforestation efforts, including timing, intensity, and protection of seedlings.
Further Resources
- Wildfire Forestry Recovery Portal - Central hub for recovery resources
- Reforestation Program Page - Detailed reforestation guidance and programs