Post-fire Regeneration in Yellow Pine and Mixed Conifer Forests of California: Challenges, Tools and Applications for Fire-Adapted Forests

In fire-adapted forests of the North American Mediterranean-climate zone, conifer regeneration following fire is a critical phase in the development and recovery of ecosystems. In recent years, researchers have developed models and other tools to predict the extent to which natural regeneration will meet desired tree density thresholds. In this chapter we describe the current state of post-fire regeneration modeling, how management and restoration efforts can benefit from these new information sources, and how such efforts can evolve to better meet management needs as the climate warms and fires become more extensive and severe. Additionally, we identify gaps in what the current toolset provides as well as potential directions and challenges for improving these tools in the future.