Exploring a multi-disciplinary approach to incorporating traditional knowledge into fuels treatments

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This study sampled 30 plot pairs that were treated or untreated prior to being burned by the North Star Fire and again one growing season post fire. Species diversity was significantly increased by wildfire in both treated and untreated plots. Species richness was significantly increased in the plots that were treated, and there was no significant change in species richness from wildfire within the untreated plots. The percent canopy cover of two of the six culturally important plants (Fragaria spp. and Arnica cordifolia) significantly increased one growing season post wildfire within treated plots and one (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) significantly decreased in the treated plots post wildfire. These post-fire monitoring results were consistent with Confederated Colville Tribal member management recommendations and desired outcomes of understory thinning, prescribed fire, and natural ignition found using Participatory Geographic Information System.