Interval Squeeze In Action: Modeling Woody Plant Species Survival Under Three Climate Scenarios: Research Brief

Interval Squeeze In Action: Modeling Woody Plant Species Survival Under Three Climate Scenarios: Research Brief

To test the Interval Squeeze Model concept on real, fire sensitive woody species, these authors created a process-based model of a plant population that could be used for any serotinous, fire-killed species.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Natural experiment shows SPLAT fuel treatment efficacy: Research Brief

Natural experiment shows SPLAT fuel treatment efficacy: Research Brief

Strategically placed landscape area fuel treatments (SPLATs) in the Sierra Nevada were put to the test in this study when the American Fire burned through previously treated areas. Both fire effects and initial post-fire conifer regeneration were investigated.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Valuing Chaparral: Video

Valuing Chaparral: Video

Do you have any idea just how valuable chaparral is? Most of us don't realize that these often overlooked lands provide essential benefits worth billions of dollars. The four southernmost forests in California actually contain more chaparral shrubland than forest. This animation describes the benefits and values of these often under-appreciated lands.

View on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-8KFNr1c9o

Read More

Community Conversations: Applying Traditional Knowledge to Fire Management: Research Brief

Community Conversations: Applying Traditional Knowledge to Fire Management: Research Brief

The authors use this paper to highlight some challenges and solutions in applying TK and western knowledge (WK) to current approaches of wildland fire, fuels, and natural and cultural resource management.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

What Type-converts Chaparral to Grassland in SoCA? Research Brief

What Type-converts Chaparral to Grassland in SoCA? Research Brief

The authors show a direct connection between a diverse set of drivers and type-converted chaparral in Southern California. Example drivers include high frequency fire, land-use disturbance, moisture availability, and site flatness.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Researchers & Professionals- Partnering For Ecosystem Conservation is Essential: Research Brief

Researchers & Professionals- Partnering For Ecosystem Conservation is Essential: Research Brief

Discussions of successes, struggles, and failures with partner-specific tools are vital to the successful implementation of “translational ecology” a formal term for biological conservation partnerships.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Extreme Drought Causes Chaparral Type Conversion: Research Brief

Extreme Drought Causes Chaparral Type Conversion: Research Brief

The rugged, chaparral dominated Angeles National Forest (ANF, California) is a beautiful and popular recreation destination. However, it is being damaged by a combination of overwhelming anthropogenic stressors, including climate change-induced mega-droughts, unnaturally shortened fire intervals, very poor air quality (e.g., high levels of nitrogen deposition), and the invasion of non-native groundcover plants.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Spatial predictions of conifer regeneration after wildfire may help managers prioritize reforestation efforts: Research Brief

Spatial predictions of conifer regeneration after wildfire may help managers prioritize reforestation efforts: Research Brief

Recent work by researchers from U.C. Berkeley and the U.S. Forest Service has produced a spatially-explicit predictive model that can be used to forecast where regeneration of (non-serotinous) conifers is most likely to occur after wildfire. This predictive model combines seed availability with climatic, topographic, and burn severity data to forecast the spatial patterns of post-fire conifer regeneration

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Using historical forest density estimates to inform management of contemporary Sierra Nevada forests: Research Brief

 Using historical forest density estimates to inform management of contemporary Sierra Nevada forests: Research Brief

This brief discusses and compares the two methods used to estimate historic tree densities of the Sierra Nevada. The study suggests that density estimates from distance-based estimators support the historical density estimates derived from timber inventories and reconstructions.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

How to Protect Old Trees When Reintroducing Fire: Research Brief

How to Protect Old Trees When Reintroducing Fire: Research Brief

This brief is based on a synthesis that covers recent research documenting effects of introducing fire in fire suppressed forests, provides necessary background information to understand the breadth of the problem, provides realistic management solutions to reduce impacts and defines monitoring techniques to identify treatment effects.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Understanding Spatial Controls of Mixed-Severity Fire: Research Brief

Understanding Spatial Controls of Mixed-Severity Fire: Research Brief

Understanding the relative importance of biological and environmental characteristics conducive to a moderate severity wildfire can help managers predict outcomes to better guide when and where fires can safely be managed.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More

Where the WUI is: Implications for wildfire mitigation and outreach communities: Research Brief

Where the WUI is: Implications for wildfire mitigation and outreach communities: Research Brief

The WUI is often synonymous with fire risk to buildings, but this research suggests that this is not the case in all fire-prone states. While fire outreach was often present near areas where buildings are destroyed by wildfire, many communities are established after major fires.

View Research Brief PDF >

Read More