swfsc, Author at Southwest Fire Science Consortium

Southwest Tribal Fire and Climate Resilience – 2023 Virtual Workshop

by swfscFactsheet, Workshops June 29, 2023April 12, 2024No Comments

This is part of an ongoing effort to respect tribal sovereignty and treaty rights by supporting tribal use of fire as part of cultural and ecological resilience, and seeks to increase capacities, ameliorate challenges, and share examples that can guide tribes across the Southwest. In 2023, we gathered virtually to explore issues facing tribes relating …

A man in a baseball cap sits in a burned forest planting plants.

Increasing Post-Wildfire Planted Seedling Survival

by swfscWebinars June 27, 2023February 8, 2024No Comments

In a nutshell: Tips for planting trees after severe fire in the Southwest, we learn how microclimates, nurse plants, and biochar impact survival of seedlings. We also learn how these techniques can be scaled-up to improve replanting efforts across an entire landscape. Description: Across the southwestern United States, high-severity wildfire is resulting in increasingly large …

Pine covered hill half drenched in smoke.

Fire in the Southwest, Past and Present – Fire Season 2022 Overview and 2023 Outlook

by swfscWebinars May 18, 2023February 8, 2024No Comments

In a nutshell: A researcher examines trends in the largest fires in the Southwest of 2022, and a meteorologist explores the fire season outlook and expectations for fire weather behavior in 2023. Description: Join the SWFSC for a webinar reviewing last year’s fires and looking ahead toward fire conditions for this year. Dr. Zander Evans …

A smoke plume coming up on the east side of a peak.

Public Experiences and Perceptions with Wildfire and Flooding, A Case Study of the 2019 Museum Fire

by swfscWebinars April 18, 2023February 8, 2024No Comments

IN A NUTSHELL: Gain insights into public perceptions on wildfire and post-fire flooding with suggestions on how to improve information exchange. Description: The greater Flagstaff area in northern Arizona has experienced multiple wildfires in recent years that have resulted in post-wildfire flooding. These events galvanized collaborative efforts to reduce hazardous fuels on steep slopes and …

A firefighter stands near a low severity fire that is being managed for resource benefit.

Managed Wildfire: A Research Synthesis & Overview

by swfscScience Synthesis April 18, 2023July 27, 2023No Comments

All wildfires in the United States are managed, but the strategies used to manage them vary by region and season. “Managed wildfire” is a response strategy to naturally ignited wildfires; it does not prioritize full suppression and allows the fire to fulfill its natural role on the landscape, meeting objectives such as firefighter safety, resource …

Policy & Managed Fire

by swfscWebinars March 24, 2023February 8, 2024No Comments

IN A NUTSHELLReview of the history, policies, and challenges behind “managed wildfire”, the fire management strategy of leveraging natural ignitions for resource objectives and community benefit. Description: The topic of “managed wildfire” is mired in complexity, starting with what to call it. This fire management approach has been known as “prescribed natural fire,” “wildland fire use,” …

Fires, forest management, and the future of New Mexico’s endemic salamanders

by swfscWebinars February 23, 2023February 12, 2024No Comments

In a nutshell: Case study showcasing land management strategies that seek to reduce wildfire-associated impacts on two endemic threatened or endangered salamander species in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. Date: Thursday, March 30 at 10am Mountain Time/ 9am Arizona Time Description: Uncharacteristically severe and frequent wildfires represent a significant threat to populations of two amphibian species of conservation concern in …

Strategies to Reduce Wildfire Smoke

by swfscWebinars February 23, 2023February 12, 2024No Comments

In a nutshell: This webinar will address what could be done to reduce the amount of smoke experienced by frequently impacted communities during wildfire season. Description: Smoke from wildfires is a well-recognized public health and safety issue. While there have been extensive efforts to help communities be “smoke ready”, most people would still prefer not …

Smoke from a fire fills the space between two small hills.

Fire Science Research Needs in the Southwest

by swfscOther Publications January 23, 2023February 12, 2024No Comments

By Noah Haarmann and Catrin Edgeley Overview Fire science has advanced significantly in the past decade, yet prioritization of, access to, and use of best available scientific information (BASI) among different users remains unclear. This whitepaper presents the outcomes of a survey (informed by key informant interviews) to determine research needs in fire science across …

Series of 4 images that show a range of forest health.

Wildfire and Climate Change Adaptation

by swfscWebinars January 10, 2023February 12, 2024No Comments

IN A NUTSHELL Experts tell the story of forest change since colonization, and share insights and answer questions about how we might steward a legacy of forest change and mitigate climate change impacts. Description: Climate change and wildfires pose an existential threat to western North American forests, a reality which necessitates place-based strategies to increase …