Tree and stand characteristics moderate wildfire severity and promote resilience in secondary coast redwood forests

Increases in fire activity over the past few decades with associated increases in frequency and severity pose serious challenges to many forest ecosystems. While previous studies have informed strategies to mitigate fire severity in many forest types, limited research exists for highly resilient forest types, such as the iconic coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ), hindering the ability to promote and implement effective management solutions. Large mixed severity wildfires in 2020 provided an opportunity to examine mortality and resprouting response patterns at the tree and stand-level in secondary coast redwood forest ecosystems in the central coast of California. We established a network of 123 monitoring plots across three 2020 wildfire sites. Mortality levels were relatively low, and redwoods were highly resilient, but many stands experienced substantial canopy loss. Mortality was greater in smaller diameter redwoods with shallower crowns and more fire damage. Stand level mortality was mostly influenced by a proxy measure of fire intensity. However, stands that had more basal area, higher proportions of redwood, and higher canopy base heights resulted in lower levels of mortality. Epicormic sprouting in redwoods was largely associated with fire intensity measures and factors effecting sprouting were consistent between the bole and crown at both the tree and stand scale. Results from this study provide meaningful information that can be used to guide managers of secondary redwood forests to limit impacts from wildfire and better meet management objectives, an area of concern given the continued projections of a fierier future. • Most redwood stands had low mortality, but many had substantial crown loss. • Smaller trees with shallow crowns and more fire damage had higher mortality. • Stand level mortality was most associated with measures related to fire intensity. • Stands with more basal area, higher canopies, and more redwood had less mortality. • Management actions hold promise in reducing impacts of wildfires in redwood forests.