Building on Science to Implement Landscape Level Treatments for Fire Resilience

View the presentations, abstracts and topics.

Click and download the Report on the April 2011 Conference - Building on Science to Implement Landscape Level Treatments for Fire Resilience.

Over 160 participants attended this conference to learn about the ecological, social, and policy perspectives applicable to implementing landscape treatments to promote system resilience and encouraging dialog and collaboration to advance Sierra Nevada forest management.

The White Mountain Four Forests Restoration was presented as a case study.

Why This Conference Now?

This was a follow-up conference to the February 2010 Pre- and Post-Wildfire Forest Management Conference that focused on the biological, ecological, and physical science associated with wildfire treatments and impacts in Sierra Nevada forests. During the 2010 conference, participants stressed that social, economic, and political aspects of wildfire need more consideration in order to develop acceptable policies and practices that address fire resilient forested ecosystems. The 2011 conference presented ecological, social, and policy perspectives applicable to implementing landscape treatments to promote system resilience and encourage dialog and collaboration to advance Sierra Nevada forest management.

Who Attended? Managers and staff of forest management agencies, regulatory agencies, local government, and public utility districts, representatives of environmental and business organizations, consultants, research scientists, and any interested public.

Conference Topics: What is a fire resilient forested landscape? How does wildlife fit into landscape fire resilience? How can we restore while treating forest fuels? and reduce the risk of high severity wildfire?

How is fire resilience linked to social sustainability? How can treatments be economically viable and politically acceptable? How can diverse groups collaborate on treatment implementation?

We explored these challenging questions through a series of scientific presentations and in depth discussions, highlighting collaborative facilitation that supports mutual learning and shared success. While focusing in the Sierra Nevada and the mixed conifer forest, this conference offer lessons and tools for other locations and systems. Our goal was to improve understanding and work towards agreement that will advance landscape level treatments for ecosystem resilience.