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This wildfire season shows the limits of forest management in the face of climate change

Jack pine and black spruce trees fall into this category, according to David Mladenoff, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Both species reproduce by using cones that are sealed up with resin, and open to spread seeds only under the intense heat of a fire.

“The nature of the (jack pine and black spruce) trees — their foliage, their bark, they have a lot of resin — they burn easily. They kind of encourage fire because they need fire,” said Mladenoff.