Local and regional factors influencing historical forest fires in eastern Fennoscandia

• DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0452
• Publication Date: 2025-04-17T07:01:16Z
• Authors: Gargi Tariyal; Roman Flury; Jari Kouki; Tuomas Aakala
• Keywords: Fire regime

We aimed at disentangling the role of different local and regional controls influencing fire occurrence in two geographically distinct forest reserves Finland. used dendrochronological data to reconstruct histories and, using survival analysis, analysed as a function stand (mesic xeric site type, topographical wetness index) landscape characteristics (stand area, neighbouring identity shared border length), study region. In total, we dated 182 fires between 1574 1921. Fires were most active during 1712–1887, several burning up 10% have been absent since early 1900s. Regardless one had higher probability burn than either type other, showing importance larger-scale spatial variation. Also, played role, with mesic neighbour decreasing stand. highlighted context (e.g. differences human use forests) structure, which may play determinant historical regimes. This article is part theme issue ‘Novel regimes under climate changes influences: impacts, ecosystem responses feedbacks’.