Wildfires and Climate Change… what a combo. Dr. Susan Prichard came on the show to talk about how we might start to adapt our forests to the impacts of a changing fire regime due to a rapidly changing climate. What tools and methods can be used to help mitigate some of the most dangerous aspects of the fire reality we live in today.

Episode highlight

In this episode, Susan Prichard talks about using prescribed burning as a way to prevent runaway wildfires and manage climate change.

Resources

Dr. Susan J Prichard

Adapting western North American forests to climate change and wildfires: 10 common questions

Sponsors

West Fraser

GreenLink Forestry Inc.

Damaged Timber

Forest Proud

Giveaway

Enter YourForest10 at checkout at the Damaged Timber store for a 10% discount!

Quotes

16.24 - 16.35: “Indigenous knowledge persists and… Indigenous people throughout western North America had a really good handle on living in fire country.”

Takeaways

At the cusp of management and research (04.28)

Susan thinks of herself as a forest ecologist more than a wildfire ecologist. Wanting to be the best scientist she could be has inspired her throughout her career.

The case for adaptive management (07.42)

Susan is interested in adapting forests to a warmer climate. She’s been noticing similarities in fire intensity increases, fire loss patterns and fuel loading.

Active management of wildfire (14.00)

Susan notes that there are polarized views even in forest ecology. She highlights the need for active management of wildfires.

The change conundrum (20.29)

Susan describes how forests have changed due to the loss of Indigenous fire tending and how climate change is impacting the nature of fire.

Balancing priorities (27.02)

Susan talks about how “management is always very place-based” and that some tools work in certain places, not others.

Thinning vs. burning (29.23)

Susan observes that prescribed burning works well to clean up the fuels that carry high-intensity fire. Combined with thinning, it helps forests achieve more drought tolerance.

The rewards of patience (35.04)

Susan has noticed burn crews practice patience so that fire can be restorative instead of aggressive. She also respects firefighting crews for the work they do in wildfire incidents.

Broker a new reality with fire (45.47)

Susan’s “number 1 priority for society is to cap greenhouse gas emissions”, though we would still be living in a warm or dry climate.

Fire and smoke-adapted (49.36)

Susan talks about how people are using indoor air purifiers to be prepared for the next smoke event, to protect themselves from volatile organic compounds.

Fire-wise and Fire-smart (53.36)

Even though it is difficult for fire-impacted communities to deal with more smoke, there is an increased acceptance of prescribed burning. Communities are learning from one another about cultural burning too, and Susan hopes to do her part as a good ally to empower Indigenous voices to be a part of land management decisions.

A can-do attitude (1.02.31)

Supportive management, tolerance for mistakes and a certain risk appetite help fire stewardship, which will prevent any runaway wildfires.

“Prescribed burning gets an excelled report card” (1.10.45)

Susan states that prescribed fire escapes are less than 1% in the USA. She wants prescribed burners to be as supported and appreciated as firefighters are.