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Elk Island National Park uses the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) method to evaluate the ecological impact of fire on the landscape and the success of utilizing fire to maintain a mosaic of vegetative composition and structure for healthier populations of native species. Area burned is derived from Landsat imagery, and is updated as needed. This measure uses the same database as forest area burned.

Fire plays an important role in maintaining health of forests and grasslands, and maintains biodiversity by creating a mosaic of varying age structure. The fescue grasslands of the Foothills Parkland Ecoregion were historically maintained by fire, both from natural causes and by First Nations. More than a century of fire suppression has contributed to loss of open grasslands due to shrub and aspen encroachment. The Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure is designed to be evaluated and reported as a condition monitoring measure within the Parks Canada Agency National Ecological Integrity (EI) Monitoring program in all national parks with fire-dependent vegetation.

The Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure is based closely on the fire cycle concept and assesses the degree of departure from historic or reference area burned levels within a park. ABCC provides an indication on the state of fire as an ecological process. ABCC was developed as a medium to long term ecological integrity monitoring measure that is fully integrated with the national program of Ecological Integrity (EI) indicators, and measures. Calculations of area burned condition class are according to the methods outlined in the Park Canada Agency’s Fire Monitoring Guide.

The Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure is based closely on the fire cycle concept and assesses the degree of departure from historic or reference area burned levels within a park. ABCC provides an indication on the state of fire as an ecological process. ABCC was developed as a medium to long term ecological integrity monitoring measure that is fully integrated with the national program of Ecological Integrity (EI) indicators, and measures. Calculations of area burned condition class are according to the methods outlined in the Park Canada Agency’s Fire Monitoring Guide.

Elk Island National Park uses the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) method to evaluate the ecological impact of fire on the landscape and the success of utilizing fire to maintain a mosaic of vegetative composition and structure for healthier populations of native species. Area burned is derived from Landsat imagery, and is updated as needed. This measure uses the same database as grassland area burned.

In an effort to assess the current state of wildland fire as an ecological process, the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure is designed to reflect modern-day deviations from historical wildland fire cycles (i.e., frequency). The ABCC was developed as a medium to long term ecological integrity monitoring measure that is fully integrated with the national program of ecological Integrity (EI) indicators, and measures. Calculations of area burned condition class are according to the methods outlined in the Park Canada Agency’s Fire Monitoring Guide.

In an effort to assess the current state of wildland fire as an ecological process, the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure is designed to reflect modern-day deviations from historical wildland fire cycles (i.e., frequency). The ABCC was developed as a medium to long term ecological integrity monitoring measure that is fully integrated with the national program of ecological Integrity (EI) indicators, and measures. Calculations of area burned condition class are according to the methods outlined in the Park Canada Agency’s Fire Monitoring Guide.

Fire plays an important role in maintaining health of forests and grasslands, and maintains biodiversity by creating a mosaic of varying age structure. The fescue grasslands of the Foothills Parkland Ecoregion were historically maintained by fire, both from natural causes and by First Nations. More than a century of fire suppression has contributed to loss of open grasslands due to shrub and aspen encroachment. The Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure is designed to be evaluated and reported as a management effectiveness monitoring measure within the Waterton Lakes Conservation and Restoration (CORE) project (Rescue the Fescue).

To assess the current state of wildland fire as an ecological process in the interior forests (Pukaskwa Plains, Bremner Uplands and Bremner-Widgeon Uplands ecodistricts) of Pukaskwa, the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure calculates the modern-day departure from historical wildland fire cycles (i.e., fire frequency). Area burned (hectares) and fire locations from wildland and prescribed burns are collected annually. Calculations of the ABCC follow the methods outlined in the Park Canada Agency’s Fire Monitoring Guide.

Fire plays an important role in restoring health to our forests and maintains biodiversity by creating a mosaic of forest stands of varying age structure. Forests in the Montane and Subalpine ecoregions have become overgrown and dense. Fire history studies have suggested that fire use by First Nations was common, although probably not ubiquitous. The removal of most human caused fires by the beginning of the 20th century along with fire suppression and landscape fragmentation since that time have greatly decreased area burned and modified fire regimes.