Climate & Fire & Adaptation
Summit summary.
In partnership with the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, the Climate Science Alliance co-hosted the 2022 Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit (SWTCCS) May 16-18, 2022. The 2022 theme: “Exploring the Fire Within Us”
The 2022 SWTCCS built upon key takeaways from the 2019 SWTCCS held in Idyllwild, CA. The 2022 summit brought together tribal leaders, professionals, and community members from across the Southwest to explore the kinship with fire and its role in community, conservation, and climate change adaptation while putting our own unique twist with hands-on activities, networking, and professional training opportunities.
Webinar recording.
Hear from tribal representatives who work in a variety of roles related to fire stewardship, research and management. These panelists share their goals around managing and stewarding fire, their perspectives on how scientists and managers can help ensure that collaborative fire projects meet the goals of tribal communities, how non-tribal scientists and managers can build trust with tribal communities, and the social and ecological challenges they face in their work.
View report.
Globally, more carbon is stored in the soil than in any other terrestrial form (Brevik 2013; Woodall et al. 2015). Soil organic carbon (SOC) may contain more than three times the carbon found in the atmosphere and terrestrial vegetation combined (Qafoku 2014). Soil organic carbon is derived from soil organic matter (i.e., decomposition of living organisms) and is generally about 58 percent of soil organic matter by weight (Pribyl 2010). Storage of SOC is limited by soil physical and chemical composition as well as microbial and plant community types, all of which are determined by soil moisture and temperature (Emmet et al. 2004; Kardol et al. 2010).
Webinar recording for Day 1.
Webinar recording for Day 2.
Climate change in the Great Basin poses many challenges to land management. This webinar series will discuss recent research and observations of climate and drought-driven changes in pinyon-juniper woodland dynamics. Tune in to better understand what changes may be in store. These one-hour webinars will begin at 11 PST/12 MST.
Day 1: Recent Pinyon-Juniper Responses to Climate Change
Great Basin pinyon-juniper responses to climate change: Woodland expansion, contraction, or transformation? – Peter Weisberg, UNR
PJ woodland management changes after two decades of drought: Perspective from Four Corners – Ian Barrett, BLM
Q&A and discussion
Day 2: Understory Response and Management Implications
Fire impacts in pinyon-juniper woodlands: Recovery, plant invasions, and restoration opportunities – Ali Urza, USFS
Anticipating future climate-driven changes in pinyon-juniper woodlands – Bob Shriver, UNR
Q&A and discussion
Webinar recording.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Idaho recently partnered with GS Strategy Group to conduct a public opinion survey in North Idaho to gauge public perceptions on forest health, wildfire, controlled burning, and climate change. Please join for a virtual presentation and discussion of the results. Kari Kostka, Director of External Affairs for TNC and IFRP Board member, will join Robert Jones, Partner with GS Strategy Group, to share the results and answer questions.
Check forum webpage for recordings or resources.
This year’s Forum focused on drought impacts for Idaho rangelands and strategies for moving landscapes and communities towards resilience. A diverse group of panelists and speakers presented on the economic, social, and ecological implications of drought, as well as solutions.
Webinar recordings.
Monday, October 25: Assessing our Future Forests
Resources Planning Act (RPA) Assessment: informing forest and grassland management, planning, and regional assessment, presented by Jennifer Costanza
Vulnerability assessment tools for setting priorities and identifying management targets, presented by Megan Friggens
Identifying climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation options for western U.S. national forests, presented by Jessica Halofsky and David L. Peterson
Tuesday, October 26: Adapting to Future Conditions
The Wildlife Adaptation Menu: a new tool for wildlife managers, presented by Stephen Handler
Climate adaptive silviculture in an urban floodplain forest, presented by Leslie Brandt
The role of climate and landscape change context in shaping forest dynamics, presented by Kristen Emmett
Wednesday, October 27: Modeling Tools for Management
Vegetation shifts with climate change: Applying the MC2 model, presented by John Kim
Incorporating future forest dynamics under climate change into landscape restoration planning: An application to the Central Sierras, presented by Nick Povak, Patricia Manley, Kristen Wilson
TACCIMO/FAMOUS – Connecting forest planning and operation with climate change challenges in the 21st Century, presented by Kelsey Bakken
Thursday, October 28: Management and Planning Tools
Web-based tools for determining seed sources for reforestation and restoration for current and future climates, presented by Brad St. Clair
The California seed zone map and post-fire reforestation in a warmer future, presented by Jessica Wright
PhenoMap: Providing timely rangeland vegetation assessments in a changing climate, presented by Jacqueline Ott, Charlie Schrader-Patton, Nancy Grulke
Friday, October 29: Shifting Life
Desired regeneration through assisted migration, presented by Dustin Bronson
Projected changes to an Arizona Sky Island are a harbinger of climate-fire effects on other western forests, presented by Kit O’Connor
Silvicultural strategies to improve post-fire reforestation success under climate change, presented by Chris Looney
View articles.
Fire exclusion caused profound changes in many western North American forested landscapes, leaving them vulnerable to seasonal increases in drought and wildfire. As climate warms, the likelihood of severe, large-scale disturbance increases. There is generally strong agreement that wildfires, insects and disease are rapidly changing western landscapes and that the pace and scale of adaptive management is insufficient. However, confusion persists regarding the need for proactive management. In three articles, this Invited Feature evaluates the strength of scientific evidence regarding changing forest conditions, fire regimes, and science-based strategies for adapting western forests to climate change and future wildfires.
View article.
Our results show that 57% of structures (homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, etc.) are located in hazard hotspots, which represent only a third of CONUS area, and ∼1.5 million buildings lie in hotspots for two or more hazards. These critical levels of exposure are the legacy of decades of sustained growth and point to our inability, lack of knowledge, or unwillingness to limit development in hazardous zones. Development in these areas is still growing more rapidly than the baseline rates for the nation, portending larger future losses even if the effects of climate change are not considered.
Webinar recording.
Description: A panel of experts will discuss why wildfires are on the rise, the role of climate change, the predicted fate of future forests, and ways that at-risk communities can adapt. Large fires are becoming more frequent and severe across the western US. Since 1984, annual burned forest area has increased by about 1,100%. Lives, property, and livelihoods are routinely threatened and burned landscapes can be left ecologically transformed. What is causing recent trends in fire activity? What will forests of the future look like? How can modeling wildfires and forest response guide adaptation strategies? These are among the questions to be explored. Panelists will also discuss the importance of tailoring fire and forest management to the local context, considering regionally specific factors like forest type, environmental conditions, and the presence of people.
Panelists: Forest ecologist Winslow Hansen (Cary Institute), Fire ecologist Phil Higuera (University of Montana), and Natural resource sociologist Catrin Edgeley (Northern Arizona University).