Effects of thinning on fuel characteristics and potential fire behaviors of Pinus tabuliformis forest in Beijing West Mountain

The typical Pinus tabuliformis forests were selected in Beijing Xishan Experimental Forest Farm. Thinning treatment was conducted with different intensities, i.e. unthinning (0%, CK), low intensity (15%, L), moderate intensity (35%, M), and high intensity (50%, H). Based on the field investigation, the fuel loading and vertical distribution characteristics of different thinning stands were studied. By using BehavePlus fire model software, the potential fire behaviors of different thinning stands were analyzed. The results indicated that: 1) thinning intensity affected the fuel loading of studied stands, with the trend of H>M>L>CK; 2) The 0-2 m layer was showed with the highest fuel loading value in all stands, and the fuel loading decreased along with the height increasing; 3) The potential fire behaviors, including speed of propagation, heat per unit area, fire line intensity, and flame length, which were all significantly affected by thinning intensity, were showed with the trend of L>CK>M>H. The above results can provide scientific basis for the fuel management in studied area.