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SUMMER 2024 ISSUE

Hello Colleagues,


The winds of spring in the Southwest have subsided and temperatures are heating up. Many of us were surprised and delighted by early monsoon rains while fire season sparked up in some places across the Southwest.


Our hearts go to everyone impacted by the South Fork and Salt Fires near Ruidoso, NM. We will be with you as you navigate recovery; and for those who are looking for ways to help, support the recovery efforts here.


This is a BIG newsletter and we are excited to share a science synthesis that received lots of media coverage, our new podcast series, and SO much more. We’ll be sharing many of these resources for months to come. Please sip on this issue slowly and enjoy!


Regards,

The SW Fire Science Consortium Team

UPDATES

New releases from the SW Fire Science Consortium

Photo Credit: Frankie Lopez

NEW REPORT:

Fire in the Sonoran Desert

The expansion of the grass-fire cycle in the deserts of North America is driving ecosystem level transformation from patchy desert scrub to invasive grassland. A novel fire regime in the Sonoran Desert is forcing a new approach to land management, where there are currently more questions than answers. What is the ecological trajectory of the Sonoran Desert? What should we be managing for?


This report summarizes the history and trends of fire in the Sonoran Desert and discusses future conservation strategies.


The report includes a description of the issue, list of research questions, list of repeat photo plots, and graphics of desert fires, ecological trajectories, and invasive species.


The report is receiving lots of media attention, here is a sample:

KJZZ Tucson Radio

AZ Republic

Channel 12 News Phoenix


FACTSHEET:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Wildfire

NEW PODCAST SERIES


We are partnering with Amanda Monthei of Life with Fire Podcast in a 6-episode series. In our first introductory episode, Mary Stuever, Cimarron, NM District Forester, joins Amanda to discuss Southwest fire regimes, post-fire community support, health impacts of smoke to wildfire professionals, and so much more.


There is something for everyone, please listen & share!

FACTSHEET:

Resources for New Employees

FUNDING FOR COMMUNITIES

The Arizona Wildfire Initiative is working to build a resource toolbox for wildfire-related funding for community resilience. Check out this list of current funding opportunities.

HOT STUFF

The Latest Research & News from around the Southwest

Benefits and Challenges of Prescribed Fire


SWFSC lead, Andi Thode spoke with KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny about the benefits and challenges of prescribed fire. Listen here.

Research Funding - Joint Fire Science Program


Call for proposals now open!

The primary announcement features 4 topics relevant to the Southwest:

  1. Accelerating science to action in fire-prone ecosystems: Spurring innovation in adaptation through knowledge exchange and place-based partnerships

  2. Cultural burning: Bridging conventional science gaps with Indigenous Knowledge and relationship between cultural burning and wildfire resilience/risk

  3. Interactions between invasive plants and fire regimes and incorporation of invasives into wildland fire fuel models, risk assessments, and other decision support tools

  4. Social equity and wildland fire impacts, mitigation, response, and recovery


Other funding covers Graduate Research Innovation and continued funding for a few of the Fire Science Exchange Networks (SWFSC is the Southwest Exchange funded by Joint Fire Science Program).


Learn more here.

Lessons from an Experimental Wildland Fire


Fire and smoke researchers collaborated with land managers to "learn and burn" from a unique, high-intensity prescribed fire that was conducted to restore aspen forests on the Fishlake National Forest in southern Utah. Led by the Pacific Northwest Research Station, researchers from many agencies and institutions worked with fire managers to safely collect data on fire behavior, smoke composition and transport, soil dynamics, and forest ecology, with the ultimate goal of improving models used for fire and smoke management. This partnership is called the Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE).


Watch a short video about the project here.


Is Forest Restoration Worth the Investment?

Short answer: YES!


A new meta-analysis shows the return on investment in forest treatment in wildfire prone forests in the West. This free article details the cost effectiveness of wildfire reduction strategies such as thinning and prescribed fire.


In a meta-analysis of 16 studies, researchers found “that in the most valuable and at-risk watersheds, every dollar invested in forest restoration can provide up to seven dollars of return in the form of benefits and provide a return-on-investment of 600%.”


Read the research paper here.

Wildfire Risk to Communities has new wildfire risk data for the entire United States. The free, easy-to-use website includes interactive maps with the latest data and innovations in vegetation, weather, and fire behavior models. Check out this site to find:

  • The latest vegetation data to better understand available fuel sources

  • Updated weather datasets to reflect current climate conditions more accurately

  • The latest advances in methods for simulation modeling of wildfire hazard

  • Updated and improved building footprint datasets for representing the locations of buildings and housing

  • A new feature called "Risk Reduction Zones" to help communities see the most effective mitigation activities in different locations

  • A new funding section to help communities find grants and support for wildfire risk reduction

  • New navigation and links to make it easier to find resources and solutions

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

Webinars, conferences, trainings & more!

SWFSC Webinar Recordings

Each year we examine the previous fire season and discuss the outlook for wildfire in the Southwest. Watch the recording here.

This panel discussion reflects on fire management decisions made – and opportunities missed – during the San Juan National Forest’s 2023 fire season, and how those decisions represent an organizational evolution toward more nuanced and strategic thinking about fire response. Watch the recording here.

Panelists discuss a variety of topics related to wildlife and habitat monitoring at the intersection of fauna and environmental disturbances such as fire. Join us for research reviews, case studies, and stories about existing collaborations and technologies – and collaborative and technological gaps – to advance our understanding of fire and wildlife and improve wildlife outcomes. Watch the recording here.

A panel of experts discuss wildlife habitat management through monitoring and adaptation at the intersection of fire, climate change, and human encroachment. Watch the recording here.

Find all our webinar recordings here.

REGISTER FOR ALL WEBINARS HERE

Conference & Workshops

SOUTHWEST FIRE ECOLOGY CONFERENCE

July 30: Proposals Due for Oral Presentations

September 10: Proposals Due for Poster Presentations and Meetings/Activities

 

Want to be a sponsor or exhibitor at the conference? Learn more here. 

NEW MEXICO WILDLAND URBAN FIRE SUMMIT: Learn more here.

Save the Date

ARIZONA TRIBAL FIRE AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE SUMMIT

More information here. Please reach out if your work focuses on tribal fire and climate resilience and want to be included in our call for registrations. Email: molly.mccormick@nau.edu

Save the Date

AZ WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE SUMMIT

More information here.

Other Events

The Southwest Fire Science Consortium is a JFSP Fire Science Exchange Network

Funding also provided by:

QUESTIONS? IDEAS? RESEARCH?
Contact Molly McCormick, Program Manager
(928) 853-1148 // molly.mccormick@nau.edu