Patch-based assessment of post-fire recovery after the 2003 Siberian wildfire

• About 73% of burned patches recovered by 2023 with a mean 12.2-year recovery. • Recovery time showed clear edge-to-interior gradients within burned patches. • Climatic factors were the primary drivers controlling post-fire recovery. • Patch morphology and burn severity also exerted significant influences. • The patch-based framework offers an ecologically realistic recovery assessment. Post-fire vegetation recovery in boreal forests is shaped by the complex interactions among burn severity, ecological conditions, and climatic factors. Traditional pixel-based assessments often overlook the spatial configuration and shape of burned areas, potentially underestimating heterogeneity and misrepresenting recovery dynamics. Here, we developed a patch-level framework to quantify recovery time for the 2003 Siberian wildfire, examining the combined effects of patch morphology, burn severity, climatic factors, and topography. By 2023, 72.7% of burned patches had recovered, with an average recovery time of 12.2 years. Recovery was fastest in smaller, more compact patches, whereas larger and elongated patches recovered more slowly. Within patches, recovery time increased from edges toward interiors, indicating consistent edge-to-interior gradients. Climatic factors, particularly higher temperature and radiation, slowed recovery, whereas greater precipitation and soil moisture accelerated it. Burn severity also delayed regeneration, while topographic influences were minor in this low-relief landscape. These results demonstrate that patch morphology and climate jointly shape post-fire recovery and emphasize the importance of incorporating spatial configuration into forest resilience assessments and restoration planning. The patch-based framework provides a scalable, ecologically realistic approach applicable to fire-prone ecosystems worldwide.