Historical Ecology of Fire-prone Landscapes Webinar 2023

In this webinar, historical ecologist Arthur Dawson presents the findings of a three-year CALFIRE-funded study conducted in partnership with Pepperwood, Mark Tukman, and Dr. Jim Thorne. Arthur will trace the story of fire and vegetation in the North Bay over the last 150 years. Integrating a wide variety of sources reveals the surprisingly dynamic patterns of chaparral, hardwood, and conifer woodlands in response to wildfire, timber harvest, and wildfire suppression.

It took generations to set the stage for the catastrophic fires of the last decade. It will take several more to change that trajectory. Changing course is going to require hard work on the ground guided by a deeper understanding of the relationship of fire, vegetation, and the role of human beings in the landscape.