Understanding and Adapting to Our Fire-Driven Future
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Chapter 1: Living with Fire
In an inspiring article by Kate Wheeling published this week in Future Human, she highlights an emerging cohort of Californians who are acquiring the skills necessary to coexist with wildfires rather than merely combat them. As wildfires continue to ravage the Western U.S., this community’s proactive approach and their readiness to adapt by reevaluating outdated beliefs about land management is particularly commendable. If you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, it’s definitely worth a look.
The Residents Harnessing Fire to Protect California
Locals are learning to utilize fire as a beneficial tool for land management.
In a recent editorial featured in the journal Science, two seasoned ecology experts provide insights into how we can approach our increasingly fiery future. Their perspective is surprisingly uplifting: While it’s clear that human-induced climate change is a significant factor in the rise of wildfires, they assert that viable solutions are attainable. Now is the moment for us to dissect and address the various elements contributing to this crisis. In essence, we must adopt a scientific mindset.
“Some challenges have technical solutions — for example, fires initiated by power lines can be mitigated. Others involve complex ecological dynamics: Areas that have been deprived of fire may experience an ecological deficit, making it as challenging to restore fire as it is to revive an extinct species. Many of these issues stem from conflicting cultural values regarding energy production, economic organization, and land use, which necessitate political solutions.”
Fire's Role in Our Ecosystems
It may feel as though our planet is engulfed in flames. Regions like Australia and California, where fire is a natural component of the ecosystem, illustrate this reality.
The first video titled "Growing Up in Science - How to be a scientist in a world on fire?" discusses how we can educate ourselves to face these fire challenges.
As we progress, it’s essential to rethink how we assess the destructive effects of fires, as noted by fire scientist and former firefighter Crystal Kolden, PhD, in a recent article in Nature. Currently, the narrative around wildfires predominantly revolves around the area affected — this year alone, California has witnessed up to 1.5 million hectares burned. However, Kolden argues that we should adopt a metric that better reflects what is actually burning. This shift would enable a more nuanced understanding of fire's implications: As Wheeling's article pointed out, some fires can paradoxically aid in fire suppression, emphasizing the need for experts to differentiate between harmful and beneficial fires.
“Focusing solely on fire suppression can ultimately jeopardize lives, landscapes, and properties,” Kolden states. “By shifting our emphasis away from the area burned, we can begin to explore how much fire is excessive and which fires, at what intensity, may be advantageous.”
Reevaluating Fire Impact Assessment
The narrative surrounding wildfires often emphasizes the massive area burned, with California on track to surpass 1.5 million hectares in 2020. This statistic has become a focal point in discussions about wildfire management.
The second video titled "Scientist in Action: Forests, Fire, and Times That Are Drier" illustrates the complexities of fire management in changing climates.