The SSPM can help guide management decisions in mixed conifer/ yellow pine forests of the western US/ California that wish to return forests to historical (pre-European) conditions or prepare them for a changing climate and an uncertain future.
Read MorePlants often have characteristics that make them well suited to the common type, frequency, and/or severity of disturbance in ecosystems where they occur. Plant species richness was found to be affected by historical fire regime and severity in coniferous forests of the Western US.
Read MoreThis study focused on better understanding the role of stand characteristics and burn entry number in fuel consumption.
Read MoreIn December 2019, partners from the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Arizona, and EcoAdapt hosted a two-day workshop in Sacramento, California, to discuss observations of and management options for fire-caused vegetation type conversion (VTC). A summary of this workshop and a call for resources (through 2021) are included in this summary.
Read MoreTwo years after the 2015 Wragg Fire burned the Reserve, a restored public trail was reopened for use. The authors used surveys to determine public perceptions of fire in this chaparral ecosystem.
Read MoreIn our changing world, community change may be a resilience response indicating a process of adaptation rather than of failure. Falk and colleagues (2019) argue that resilience goals should be updated to better apply to 21st century ecosystems.
Read MoreThis research suggests that collaborative learning among stakeholders (aka knowledge coproduction) would be a good way to develop context specific resiliency metrics and goals, making the term more useful by operationalizing it.
Read MoreAlthough the causes of the fires vary by ecoregion and require location- and driver-specific management tools, there are effective ways to reduce both structure exposure and structure sensitivity to fire across all of California.
Read MoreA comparison study of different liability lows shows how gross negligence coupled with some key additional regulations would likely result in prescribed fire being more available to managers while also providing safety assurance to the public.
Read MoreWith this paper, we aim to clarify basic liability laws in California, using state law and case examples to further the collective understanding and comfort around prescribed fire liability.
Read MoreThis research brief provides an example of easy-to-understand conceptual modeling framework as applied to a Mediterranean-type ecosystem.
Read MoreThis research brief adds evidence that plant consumers (i.e., fire and vertebrate herbivory) are key evolutionary drivers for shaping global vegetation patterns.
Read MoreThis California Fire Regime Ecoregion classification map (i.e., using clustered driver variability layers) aims to devise a fire regime classification that better aligns with ecosystem types.
Read MoreThis synthesis summarizes the findings from four different research articles which explore different aspects of how the fire history of the Illilouette Creek Basin in Yosemite National Park has affected its water resources.
Read MoreThis synthesis draws recommendations from four studies that are relevant to prescribed burning as a fuels reduction method in young stands. Most studies also looked at potential effects of mastication as a fuels treatment in comparison to prescribed burning.
Read MoreThis Overview Article summarizes research relevant to understanding short- and longer-term effects of massive tree mortality in what were historically frequent fire forests of California, presents results on fire severity from a recent wildfire that burned through severe tree mortality, and makes management recommendations for reducing future tree mortality and increasing forest resilience and adaptation to climate change.
Read MoreThis paper contrasts the two most important factors driving large fires: fuel-dominated vs. wind-dominated wildfires.
Read MoreThis paper explores whether human or natural ignition (lightning) sources are linked to wildfire occurrence during Santa Ana wind events. While lightning ignitions during Santa Ana conditions have been rare in the past, predictions under anthropogenic climate change project drier fuels during the winter months when lightning and Santa Ana winds are more likely to occur simultaneously, increasing the future potential for devastating wildfires.
Read MoreAssisted natural regeneration (ANR) is an alternative aimed at encouraging site conditions favorable for natural regeneration through actions such as alleviating limitations on viable seed production, germination, and seedling survival. Two ANR approaches were tested on the Mojave Desert foundation species, the creosote bush.
Read MoreHardening homes was strongly correlated with structure survival in the Wildland Urban Interface. The best ways to “harden homes” are to: enclose eaves and use multiple pane windows; use fire-resistant exterior siding, composite deck materials, and fine-mesh vent screens.
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The California Fire Science Consortium is divided into 4 geographic regions and 1 wildland-urban interface (WUI) team. Statewide coordination of this program is based at UC Berkeley.
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This regional Fire Science Exchange is one of 15 regional fire science exchanges.
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