Our chance to address the escalating fire crisis in the Western US is rapidly diminishing. Scientific consensus confirms that climate change is driving increased fire activity, pushing Western forest ecosystems to critical tipping points. This not only threatens local communities but also undermines national conservation efforts and has far-reaching impacts on the global climate and biodiversity.
The Cary-led Western Fire & Forest Resilience Collaborative is pioneering adaptive fire management frameworks. By integrating cutting-edge scientific research, traditional ecological knowledge, and stakeholder input, we can guide more informed and effective decision-making.
We must act now. Empowering practitioners at all levels with the best available data and models is crucial. By investing in strategies that leverage our collective knowledge and resources, we can shift the balance of fire from devastating to sustainable.
