Welcome to the environmental review, where we bring environmental research and policy to light. Today we’re joined by one of the most respected voices in forest and fire ecology—Dr. Hugh D. Safford. With decades of experience leading research across the Sierra Nevada and beyond, Dr. Safford has shaped how we understand wildfire, climate change, and the role of traditional ecological knowledge in land stewardship. He’s the Chief Scientist at Vibrant Planet, a former US Forest Service regional ecologist, and a professor at Uni cali Davis. Whether he’s restoring resilient forests or hiking high-altitude mountains, his work bridges science, policy, and people.