Future Search Conference Notes
Park City, UT - October 6-8, 1997
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Wildland
Fire Research Future Search Conference Notes Park City, UT - October 6-8, 1997 |
Preface
The USDA Forest Service sponsored the Future of Wildland Fire Research Conference held in Park City, Utah, on October 6-8, 1997. The participants, scientists and decision and policy makers came from various government agencies and non-government organizations. These individuals gathered to discuss the past, present, and future of wildland fire research in a unique and innovative setting. The conference was an experiment, a beginning.
Due to size limitations and conflicting schedules, many who might have contributed to this effort were unable to do so. We hope this report accurately expresses the commitment and work of those attending.
Government and non-government organizations represented included USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Weather Service, National Aeronautic and Space Administration, Canadian Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Colorado State Forest Service, Florida Forest Protection Bureau, Tall Timbers Research Station, University of Washington, University of Idaho, University of Montana, University of Wyoming, University of Arizona, Fire Protection Research Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy.
Conference Goals
This Future Search Conference was a task-focused planning effort that relied on the knowledge, expertise, and experience of individuals interested in improving wildland fire research. The goals of this conference were to:
- discover common ground in the wildland fire research community;
- develop a future vision of wildland fire research; and
- devise a set of action plans to achieve that vision.
To accomplish these goals, all conference attendees participated in a series of activities to increase their common pool of information about wildland fire research. Some exercises focused on the past, others looked at the present, still others projected the future.
Conference Structure
Each participant was a member of two groups: a stakeholder group and a mixed group. The group type was appropriate to the exercise. The conference planning committee identified eight stakeholder groups and eight mixed groups. The stakeholder groups were:
- Administration/Policy (two groups)
- Fire Behavior/Risk Management
- Fire Behavior/Physical Science
- Biology/Ecology/Watershed Sciences (two groups)
- Air Issues
- Social Science/Wilderness
Within these groups were key stakeholders in wildland fire research who could commit to actions and plans. Conference participants were identified and recruited by a conference steering committee (Appendix A) to attend the conference. Stakeholder and mixed group members are listed by group in Appendix A. Conference participants are listed individually in Appendix B.
Each group generated information and ideas on flip-charts and made presentations. Two facilitators helped keep the groups focused, the tasks on schedule, and highlighted the major themes.
Title: RMRS-P-1:
Wildland Fire Research - Future Search Conference Notes: Preface
Electronic Publish Date: December 16, 1998
Expires: Indefinite
Last Update: August
19, 2008