Publication Details
Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/1365-2664.13972
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Effects of large herbivores on fire regimes and wildfire mitigation
Author Rouet-Leduc, J.; Pe'er, G.; Moreira, F.; Bonn, A. ORCID logo ; Helmer, W.; Shahsavan Zadeh, S.A.A.; Zizka, A.; van der Plas, F.
Source Titel Journal of Applied Ecology
Year 2021
Department iDiv; ESS
Volume 58
Issue 12
Page From 2690
Page To 2702
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.79cnp5hw1
Supplements Supplement 1
Keywords browsing; fire regimes; grazing; herbivory; pastoralism; rewilding
Abstract
  1. Abandonment of agricultural land is widespread in many parts of the world, leading to shrub and tree encroachment. The increase of flammable plant biomass, that is, fuel load, increases the risk and intensity of wildfires. Fuel reduction by herbivores is a promising management strategy to avoid fuel build-up and mitigate wildfires. However, their effectiveness in mitigating wildfire damage may depend on a range of factors, including herbivore type, population density and feeding patterns.
  2. Here, we review the evidence on whether management with herbivores can reduce fuel load and mitigate wildfires, and if so, how to identify suitable management that can achieve fire mitigation objectives while providing other ecosystem services. We systematically reviewed studies that investigated links between herbivores, fire hazard, fire frequency and fire damage.
  3. We found that, in general, herbivores reduce fuel load most effectively when they are mixed feeders, when grazing and browsing herbivores are combined and when herbivore food preferences match the local vegetation. In some cases, the combination of herbivory with other management strategies, such as mechanical clearing, is necessary to reduce wildfire damage.
  4. Synthesis and Applications. We conclude that herbivores have the capacity to mitigate wildfire damage, and we provide guidance for grazing management for wildfire mitigation strategies. As areas undergoing land abandonment are particularly prone to wildfires, the maintenance or promotion of grazing by domestic or wild herbivores is a promising tool to reduce wildfire risk in a cost-effective way, while also providing other ecosystem services. Relevant land-use policies, including fire suppression policies, agricultural and forest(ry) policies could incentivise the use of herbivores for better wildfire prevention.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=25146
Rouet-Leduc, J., Pe'er, G., Moreira, F., Bonn, A., Helmer, W., Shahsavan Zadeh, S.A.A., Zizka, A., van der Plas, F. (2021):
Effects of large herbivores on fire regimes and wildfire mitigation
J. Appl. Ecol. 58 (12), 2690 - 2702 10.1111/1365-2664.13972