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Project ID:

24-3-01-8

Year:

2024

Date Started:

10/01/2024

Date Completed:

Title:

Southern Fire Exchange: Putting Fire Science on the Ground

Project Proposal Abstract:

Problem Statement: Wildland fire management in the U.S. is increasingly complex due to varying wildfire patterns and growing landscape intricacies. The southeastern U.S. is at the forefront of this challenge, leading the nation in proactive fuels management despite the challenges of increased wildland-urban interface and climate change. Although prescribed fires in the southeastern U.S. significantly exceed other U.S. regions, new and increasing challenges require solutions based on fire science. In addition, there is an exceptionally diverse social system of fire managers, fire users, and private landowners that make decisions about prescribed fire use, fuel mitigation, ecosystem management, and wildfire management. The Southern Fire Exchange (SFE) bridges the gaps between a diverse and growing audience of fire science users and producers to address the strong regional demand for relevant fire science information and tools.

Objectives: SFE will continue to engage end-users across a range of effort investment and engagement. We will build on over a decade of success to: (1) Share information and build relationships with a diverse and growing audience by creating products across a range of engagement levels accessible to our growing audience. We will continue to grow our library of resources, including newsletters, research syntheses, website updates, webinars and videos proven to increase access to fire science; (2) List and describe existing research and synthesis information by continuing to update our Regional Fire Science Publication Database; (3) Demonstrate research on the ground by expanding our library of virtual 360� field tours of research plots in the southeastern U.S., which allows end-users to visit and explore field sites on a virtual platform; (4) Support adaptive fire management by continuing to produce workshops and webinars on the latest fire science that foster the co-production of research, transfer of information, and adaptive fire management; (5) Identify new research, synthesis, or validation needs by engaging with regional wildland fire working groups and surveying end-users to assess regional fire science information needs, knowledge gaps, and technology deficiencies.

Benefits: Enhancing access to the most recent research in fire science and fostering increased information exchange among a diverse range of stakeholders can enhance the effectiveness of fire management initiatives, both on public and private lands. By elevating the awareness, comprehension, and trust of fire science, SFE anticipates a corresponding rise in the use and expedited adoption of science-based information and tools in fire management practices. We propose to develop a comprehensive suite of fire science delivery programs and resources, guided by our leadership team and grounded in a logic model approach. To meet the information needs of land managers, fire managers, and fire users in the southeastern U.S., we will employ a range of delivery methods, encompassing electronic, virtual, and in-person formats. SFE is committed to facilitating connections between the fire research community and fire managers to accelerate fire science implementation and foster opportunities for co-production of knowledge.

Principal Investigator:

Raelene Crandall

Agency/Organization:

University of Florida

Branch or Dept:

School of Forest Resources & Conservation

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Agreements Contact	Stephanie L Gray	University of Florida	Office of Research
Budget Contact	Stephanie L Gray	University of Florida	Office of Research
Co-Principal Investigator	David R. Godwin	University of Florida	School of Forest Resources & Conservation
Co-Principal Investigator	Joseph P. Roise	North Carolina State University-Raleigh	College of Natural Resources
Co-Principal Investigator	Kevin M. Robertson	Tall Timbers Research Station