Making a World of Difference in Fire and Climate Change
Mary Huffman
Association for Fire Ecology 6th International Fire Ecology and
Management Congress
Banquet Plenary Talk—November 28, 2015
Abstract: Together with other stressors, interactions
between fire and climate change are expressing their potential to drive ecosystem
shifts and losses in biodiversity. Closely linked to human well-being in most
regions of the globe, fires and their consequences should no longer be regarded
as repeated surprise events. Instead, we should regard fires as common and
enduring components of most terrestrial systems, including their social
context. At the global scale, too much fire and the wrong kinds of fire are
trumping not enough fire as the most influential fire problems we must address.
Intensified fire suppression and government prohibition of burning is not a
long-term solution at the global scale. Acknowledging the importance of
programs to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, I
propose that fire ecologists come together to elevate attention on four
less-discussed priorities: ecological systems in which people depend on fire
for survival and well-being; systems in which governments unwisely insist on
command and control approaches to fire; places where peat-lands are burning;
and, places where climate-driven changes in fire will cause type conversion.
In addition to the transcript (see link above), the slides are available (in pdf form).