Project abstract summaryproject title: post-fire transformations in inland northwest forests and shrublands: understanding drivers and patterns of change to inform climate adaptationproject dates: 1 1…

This $380,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey under the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CFDA 15.820) program supports a project conducted by the University of Washington, in collaboration with Oregon State University, to investigate post-fire transformations in forests and shrublands in the Inland Pacific Northwest region.

The key objectives are to: 1) identify and map areas that have experienced post-fire vegetation changes, 2) use statistical modeling to explore how factors like drought, invasive species, and fire effects contribute to these transformations, and 3) develop interactive maps and field guides to help tribal, federal, state, and local resource managers understand the probability of post-fire vegetation changes in their regions. The project aims to provide critical information to aid pre- and post-fire management decisions, including prioritizing areas for fuel treatments, restoration, and strategies to promote resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change impacts. The project period runs from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.

Activities

Working with our partners, researchers will identify and map areas that have experienced post-fire transformations, use statistical models to explore how drought, invasive species, and fire effects contribute to transformations, and together produce user-friendly interactive maps and field guides that visualize and narrate probability of post-firetransformations.deliverables and expected outcomes: fire and resource managers from tribal, federal, state, and other community partners have expressed a need for information and tools to aid pre- and post-fire management decisions in the face of increasing threats from novel wildfire effects. Results and products from this project will help managers throughout the inland pacific northwest prioritize areas for fuel treatments, restoration, management of culturally important species, grazing actions, and provide critical information for discussing where and when to resist, to accept, or direct change in an effort to promote future resistant and resilient ecosystems.intended beneficiary(IES): fire and resource managers from tribal, federal, state, and other community partners.

Subrecipient activities

The university of washington will subaward to oregon state university (OSU) to execute the research objectives of this project.