Keyword: mitigation

Applying principles and methods of risk analysis: a case example of northern spotted owl research in a dynamic pandemic landscape

This report presents considerations of potential hazards and mitigation measures associated with conducting field research in the context of a pathogenic epidemic or pandemic situation.

Living with wildfire in the Squilchuck Drainage-Chelan County, Washington: 2020 data report

The Wildfire Research Center (WiRe Center) works with wildfire practitioners seeking to create communities that are adapted to wildfire using an evidenced-based approach. Historically, immediate threats and wildfire suppression have garnered much attention and resources. While these efforts remain critical, getting in front of the problem by promoting pathways to fire adaptation is of paramount importance.

Understanding wildfire mitigation and preparedness in the context of extreme wildfires and disasters [Chapter 8]

Recent years have witnessed a growing number of stories about extreme wildfires that have had significant social impacts, from Australia to Portugal to California. Although this has heightened the call to find ways to better “coexist with fire,” it must be recognized that wildfire-human interactions are as old as humanity itself.

Evaluating the effectiveness of postfire rehabilitation treatments

Spending on postfire emergency watershed rehabilitation has increased during the past decade. A west-wide evaluation of USDA Forest Service burned area emergency rehabilitation (BAER) treatment effectiveness was undertaken as a joint project by USDA Forest Service Research and National Forest System staffs. This evaluation covers 470 fires and 321 BAER projects, from 1973 through 1998 in USDA Forest Service Regions 1 through 6.

Bioenergy-related water quality issues

Water quality is a measurement of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water against certain standards that can be ecological or specifically related to human needs. The production of bioenergy feedstocks and their conversion to solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels for heating, power and transport can drastically affect water quality in aquatic ecosystems, with impacts on biodiversity and human health.

Performance assessment of wood strand erosion control materials among varying slopes, soil textures, and cover amounts

Two blends of manufactured wood strands with different lengths were tested for effectiveness in controlling erosion. Wood strand blends were tested on two soils, two slopes, and at three coverage amounts. Laboratory rainfall simulations were conducted to evaluate runoff and sediment loss. Wood strands were effective in delaying runoff, reducing runoff volume, and reducing sediment loss.

The wildfire problem in areas contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster

This paper examines the issue of radionuclide resuspension from wildland fires in areas contaminated by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion in 1986. This work originated from a scientific exchange among scientists from the USDA Forest Service, Ukraine and Belarus that was organized to assess science and technology gaps related to wildfire risk management.

The impact of climate change on America's forests

This report documents trends and impacts of climate change on America's forests as required by the Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. Recent research on the impact of climate and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on plant productivity is synthesized. Modeling analyses explore the potential impact of climate changes on forests, wood products, and carbon in the United States.

Avoiding an uncertain catastrophe: Climate change mitigation under risk and wealth heterogeneity

For environmental problems such as climate change, uncertainty about future conditions makes it difficult to know what the goal of mitigation efforts should be, and inequality among the affected parties makes it hard for them to know how much they each should do toward reaching the goal.

The science of firescapes: Achieving fire-resilient communities

Wildland fire management has reached a crossroads. Current perspectives are not capable of answering interdisciplinary adaptation and mitigation challenges posed by increases in wildfire risk to human populations and the need to reintegrate fire as a vital landscape process.