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Webinar recording.
Attendees will:
- Receive updates from the Forest Service on the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP);
- Learn about an approach for building and maintaining a solid foundation for collaborative efforts using the 4-Ps (Purpose, People, Process, and Products);
- Hear from speakers about how CFLRP changed their collaborative efforts; and
- Be able to ask questions and join in a discussion about the process of building and maintaining a solid foundation for collaboration.
Catastrophic wildfires in the western United States pose significant risks to public health, infrastructure, and ecosystems. As these wildfires become more frequent, there is a growing need for a common methodology to identify suitable locations for prescribed burning aimed at mitigating future wildfire impacts to affected populations and ecosystems. This presentation explores the use of atmospheric chemistry transport modeling, satellite observations, and data from land managers to assess the effectiveness of prescribed burning interventions in reducing potential future wildfire smoke exposure. The presenter will offer lessons for states and rural environmental justice communities through a discussion on how implementing preventative prescribed burns in heavily forested areas such as Northern California and the Pacific Northwest may yield substantial net benefits for air quality across the entire western US, while similar interventions in other states would result in comparatively smaller impacts.
Webinar recordings.
Exploring how the health of our forests — and planet — depends on what’s beneath our feet.
May 6: Why do foresters need soil scientists?
May 7: How can soil science be applied to forest management?
May 8: How can soil scientists and foresters build relationships?
May 9: How can soil science lead to resilient forests?
May 10: How can research support timber management and soil science?
View report.
The average annual acreage burned by wildfires in the United States has increased over the past 30 years, affecting both federal and nonfederal lands. In this report, the Congressional Budget Office analyzes trends in wildfire activity; considers the effects of wildfires on the federal budget, the environment, people’s health, and the economy; and reviews forest-management practices meant to reduce the likelihood and seriousness of fire-related disasters.
This webinar discusses Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, which are unique partnerships wherein ranchers and the Bureau of Land Management work together to suppress rangeland wildfires. Using four case studies in Oregon and Idaho, the value and outcomes of this approach, as well as challenges and future implications for fire adaptation on the range are discussed. Presented by Emily Jane Davis, Oregon State University.
View article.
We focused on three metrics that are important for forest management objectives for the area: forest carbon storage, area burned at high severity, and total area burned by wildfire. Management explained a substantial amount of variance in the short term for area burned at high severity and longer term carbon storage, while climate explained the most variance in total area burned. Our results suggest that simulated extensive management activities will not meet all the desired management objectives. Both the extent and intensity of forest management will need to increase significantly to keep pace with predicted climate and wildfire conditions.
Conversion of native rangelands to cheatgrass, and subsequent impacts on wildfire regimes, are one of the most challenging threats to sagebrush ecosystems today. The widespread and complex nature of the problem and lack of clarity on effective management actions are often barriers to implementing meaningful treatments and practices to reduce risks. Although there is no silver bullet, combining cheatgrass reduction treatments with promotion or restoration of perennial vegetation in an integrated, adaptive management framework can move the needle toward maintenance and recovery of functioning ecosystems. This webinar series will provide information on integrated management approaches using specific strategies and proven tools.
The series covered the following topics and featured the following presenters, follow the links to the webinar recordings:
3/8 – Cheatgrass control methods and their impacts on perennial grasses: A systematic review spanning 64 years (Tom Monaco, ARS)
Cheatgrass control_Webinar
Cheatgrass control_Summary
4/4 – Herbicides for cheatgrass: What works? (Richard Lee, BLM)
Herbicides_Webinar
Herbicides_ Summary
4/11 – Grazing to maintain perennial grasses and reduce nonnative annuals (Kirk Davies, ARS)
GrazingWeeds_Webinar
GrazingWeeds_Summary
4/25 – Capitalizing on strategic opportunities: Examples from the field (Brian Mealor, UW and Mike Pellant, BLM-retired)
Strategies_Webinar
Strategies_Summary
5/9 – Ecologically Based Invasive Plant Management (EBIPM): Lessons from the area-wide demonstration project (Roger Sheley, ARS)
EBIPM_Webinar
EBIPM_Summary
Brought to you by the Great Basin Fire Science Exchange, in partnership with the USDA/NRCS, Sage Grouse Initiative, BLM, ARS, and FS.
Webinar recording.
US Forest Service Ecologist, Sarah M. Anderson explains the Terrestrial Condition Assessment and how LANDFIRE products have informed the TCA. Sarah fields questions ranging from using the TCA to monitor ecological conditions, wildfire severity/fire deficits, KPIs in the USFS, and what it might take to move the needle on forest restoration.
Two research fish biologists describe how fish in the Pacific Northwest have evolved with wildfire disturbances, and how considering this history can help inform management prescriptions for both wildfire and fisheries. Creative animation illuminates details of how wildfires can provide beneficial habitat for native fish species.
Webinar registration.
Parts of the western U.S., like southern California and Colorado, have a history of damaging debris flows after wildfire. Other regions are facing new postfire risks due to expanded wildfire activity. After a wildfire, emergency managers need rapid answers to the questions: Where in the burn area are debris flows likely? How much rain will it take to cause a problem? And how big will that problem be?
Using examples of recent postfire events, Jason Kean will describe how the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners work to answer those questions. He will also discuss current research to improve debris-flow hazard assessments with new tools to answer the questions: Where will debris flows will travel? How long it will take the burn area to recover? And what are the risks to future fires?