LAND: Fire history in Trillemarka

Fire is the principal disturbance process in boreal forests, and little is known about the historical variability of fire frequency in Norway. An understanding of the historic variability in disturbance regimes is essential for implementing ecosystem mana gement. This Ph.D. project will study fire history in Trillemarka, Buskerud County, Norway, at a spatiotemporal scale of 100-200 km2 and 1000 years, mainly using dendroecological methods. A major component of the work will be to outline and unequivocally document an indicated period of frequent anthropogenic fires. Another component will contribute to methodological issues regarding sampling scheme, interpretation of fire scar records, and spatial delineation of fires. The project will contribute to a bet ter understanding of the ecological basis for managing both protected nature reserves and commercially utilized forests in Norway, in particular, and boreal forests, in general.