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Project ID:

24-3-01-9

Year:

2024

Date Started:

10/01/2024

Date Completed:

Title:

Southern Rockies Fire Science Network

Project Proposal Abstract:

Proposal Overview
1. Problem Statement Natural resource and wildland fire managers across ownerships and jurisdictions in the Southern Rockies region are confronted with a myriad of challenges, including (but not limited to): increasing frequency and severity of drought and higher average temperatures; rapid spread of invasive plants shortening fire return intervals; widespread tree mortality and fuel loading; expanding wildland-urban interface; and ecosystem type conversion due to lack of tree regeneration. A comprehensive approach to compiling, translating, and exchanging biophysical and social science-based information between scientists, managers, and public stakeholders is needed to: 1) enhance shared understanding of wildland fire and risks to the regions highly-valued resources and assets, and 2) prioritize management investments and activities likely to produce the greatest impact.

2. Objectives
SRFSN seeks to address these challenges by using the best available science to achieve the following objectives:
- Continue to grow and sustain a community of practice for wildland fire knowledge exchange involving researchers, natural resource and fire managers, and interested and affected stakeholders.
- Expand engaged audiences through effective knowledge exchange activities.
- Support science-based management through outreach from ecologists, managers, and social scientists. The SRFSN will focus on the following topics of concern, per feedback from the SRFSNs community of practice: assessing climate change risks and potential adaptation strategies; restoring fire-adapted ecosystems; reducing flammable fuels relative to highly-valued resources and assets; proactively addressing smoke and air quality; promoting fire adapted communities and effective fire response through social science; addressing impacts to and from recreation; and enhancing public understanding and acceptance of wildland fire management.

3. Benefits
" Improve understanding among managers and stakeholders about the conditions and constraints likely to impact the effectiveness of management activities on the topics of concern, by serving as a clearinghouse and place to gather for knowledge exchange;
" Increased trust between managers and stakeholders to expand options and partnerships for management activities, increasing efficiency in planning and implementation;
" Policies for wildland fire management grounded in current science-based knowledge and understanding;
" Social and ecological resilience for landscapes and communities able to receive and recover from wildland fire. Goals will be measured by:
" Increased social awareness and acceptance of sound management activities;
" Increased cross-boundary, cross-jurisdictional collaboration for wildland fire planning, implementation, monitoring, and adaptive management;
" Pro-active management action is occurring at a sufficient pace and scale in collaboratively defined priority areas to mitigate unwanted harm to or loss of highly valued resources and assets;
" Priority areas exposed to wildland fire are able to recover and receive future fire without unwanted harm or loss to highly valued resources and assets.

Principal Investigator:

Camille S. Stevens-Rumann

Agency/Organization:

Colorado State University

Branch or Dept:

Warner College of Natural Resources

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Agreements Contact	Kellie M Reifstenzel	Colorado State University	Sponsored Programs
Budget Contact	Tracey T. Trujillo	Colorado State University	Warner College of Natural Resources
Co-Principal Investigator	Gloria J. Edwards	Colorado State University	Department of Forest, Rangeland & Watershed Stewardship
Co-Principal Investigator	Tony S. Cheng	Colorado State University	Colorado Forest Restoration Institute