2012 Research Highlights
Examining Trade-offs in Wildland Fire Management Decisions
Science Benefits National Fire Planning Effort
Major investments are being made throughout the United States in ongoing efforts to reduce human and ecological losses from wildfire. Extensive changes in fuel conditions are needed to reduce wildfire losses and achieve longer term fire resiliency, but opinions differ on the most efficient way to achieve these long-term landscape goals, and no universal solution exists. In 2010, Congress passed legislation requiring the Federal agencies responsible for wildland fire management to work with states, tribes, and other interested publics to develop a National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy to guide future management and wildland fire investments. Interagency regional strategy committees are actively working to identify options for leveraging resources to improve landscape resiliency, protect human communities, and coordinate wildfire response.
Scientists from the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center serve on the science and analysis team commissioned to provide analytical support to development of the Cohesive Strategy. Using the Comparative Risk Assessment Framework and Tools, a structured risk assessment and decision process collaboratively developed by EFETAC, the science team is working with the regional strategy committees to evaluate the relative consequences of alternative courses of action. This trade-off analysis will provide important information that can be used to guide the national strategy.
External Partners/Collaborators: US Geological Survey and multiple other agencies and institutions
Contact: Danny C. Lee, EFETAC Director, (828) 257-4854, danny.c.lee@usda.gov
