Despite the concerns of Weaver and others in the field, fire suppression has become a cornerstone of forest management. And at first, coinciding with a relatively cool, wet period, it seemed to work. Fires across the American West are limited and generally manageable. For about 50 years, this mode of fire was considered normal. The primary goal of forest services in this age is to support the timber industry, and for decades the industry has thrived in a stable, fire-free environment. The first forest is cleared of old trees, because the big trees make more money than the small ones. Newly developed plants are then seeded in a grid-like pattern, and reliable, fast-growing species, such as fir trees, are preferred.
As a result, there are now more fir trees in the western forests than there should be. In particular, Douglas’s firsts and first adults were common—and not adapted to withstand fires. Although these early birds are native, they are proliferating in “non-native numbers,” says McWilliams. One Research 2017 in the magazine Trees, Forests and People found that the first and other species lacking the ability to adapt to fire are nine times more common today than in previous centuries — in some areas, they make up more than 90% of the forest’s tree mass.
Douglas for the first time and for the first time allowed something else to happen. These species are very susceptible to fungal infections A. ostoyae. Although the Humongous fungus predates 20th-century forest management through fire suppression by thousands of years, it probably wouldn’t have become as large without it.
The A. ostoyae specimens known as Humongous Fungus are not solitary; In the late 20th century, another Armillaria tree of remarkable size, this one in Washington State, achieved similar proportions. “I always say that this is Be recorded McWilliams said. “There’s a good chance there’s a bigger one somewhere.”
Ironically, these giant mushrooms that are slowly destroying the forest could also be instrumental in helping it recover from a century of problematic fire management — and to protect it from a hotter climate change. , drier, and more prone to catastrophic fires.
Although it remains unclear whether the blaze burning overhead harms the Humongous Fungus itself, McWilliams notes that in areas of the forest where Armillaria infection is most prevalent, trees are spaced further apart and objects organic matter on the ground has been decomposed. As Humongous Fungus and other Armillaria species expand at a rate of up to 5 feet per year in all directions, they burrow through Douglas’ very sensitive first and large trees — creating space and filtering nutrients. back to the soil, to support the potential growth of species that are more resistant to fire (and fungi). Finally, Armillaria was able to clear all overgrown plants and natural debris from the forest floor — but not in a timeline that would be acceptable to humans.
Now, many forest management professionals are beginning to return fire to landscapes across the American West through small, highly controlled fires, known as regulatory burns. “Intentionally setting fires can be politically complicated, even in communities where everyone understands the benefits,” says McWilliams, “but you get smoke one way or another,” says McWilliams. Do you want a day with less smoke or more smoke when you can’t control it? ”
He and other forest scientists hope that we can restore a symbiotic relationship with forests, supporting natural fire cycles that benefit many species that are adapted to fire and respect natural rhythms. of the ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the Humongous mushrooms of Malheur National Forest will continue to grow.
