The Northern Rockies Fire Science Network partnered with the University of Wisconsin to bring you the Learning about Resilient Futures workshop in February, 2020. This workshop was part of a research project funded by the Joint Fire Science Program (What makes for a resilient landscape? Climate, fire and forests in the Northern Rockies). This workshop followed directly from the workshop held at the beginning of this project in 2017. The first workshop (Dimensions of Resilience) identified pressing questions from the management community about resilience, climate, and fire; and identified characteristics (such as vegetation patterns, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, timber, carbon storage, and protection of communities from fire) of interest to be modeled.

At the second workshop, the research team shared simulation results at stand, landscape, and regional scales through the end of the 21st century. The research team and managers jointly interpreted what these projections mean for resilience; identified tradeoffs among different dimensions of resilience; determined what management interventions may resolve or inadvertently intensify tradeoffs; and reviewed limitations and appropriate use of modeling results. The group compared expectations from Workshop #1 to model results and identified potential avenues for promoting landscape resilience. Participants were asked to evaluate the process and suggested additional outreach projects for communicating the results more widely.  

The research team was led by Monica G. Turner (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and team members participating in the workshops included Kristin Braziunas, Tyler Hoecker, Zak Ratajczak, Adena Rissman, Rupert Seidl, Leroy Westerling, and Monica Turner. 

NRFSN published a research brief summarizing work from this project. Related publications are shown below.  Keep checking this webpage for updates, as new publications will be displayed here as they become available.

Looking beyond the mean: Drivers of variability in postfire stand development of conifers in Greater Yellowstone

It takes a few to tango: changing climate and fire regimes can cause regeneration failure of two subalpine conifers

Short-interval severe fire erodes the resilience of subalpine lodgepole pine forests

Can wildland fire management alter 21st-century subalpine fire and forests in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA?

Forest management for novelty, persistence, and restoration influenced by policy and society

Content analysis of resilience in forest fire science and management

Can we manage a future with more fire? Effectiveness of defensible space treatment depends on housing amount and configuration

What makes for a resilient landscape? Climate, fire and forests in the Northern Rockies - Final Report to the Joint Fire Science Program

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