Research

Innovative and interdisciplinary research that is tailored to specific landowner objectives and locations is needed to provide sound and effective solutions to the diverse range of wildfire-related challenges in the region. The Humboldt Fire Resilience Institute will focus on the co-production model of research, developing the thrust of research and acquisition of knowledge through a collaborative process between practitioners and researchers to best attend to stakeholder needs. We will also encourage manager participation with the science delivery process.

Resilience & Recovery

Rapidly changing climate and fire conditions are posing numerous challenges regarding the persistence and recovery of plants and animals. Threatened and endangered species are of particular concern and often complicate management solutions. Our team has extensive experience examining species responses to fire and fuels treatments.

Fire Behavior & Effects

The advancement of knowledge regarding fire behavior and effects has been insufficient to keep pace with rapidly changing conditions. Our team will focus on providing better linkages between fire behavior and fire effects across a wide range of scenarios, with an emphasis on better understanding wildfire and prescribed fire conditions, that can promote positive outcomes.

Human Communities

Numerous human communities are directly and indirectly affected by wildfires. As the incidence of destructive wildfires increases, creative approaches are needed to promote fire resilient human communities adjacent to wildlands. Our team has a well-established record of incorporating novel perspectives to address natural resource problems affecting human communities.

Fuels Management

Past and current fire exclusion practices have contributed to elevated fuel levels that can lead to negative impacts from wildfires. Effective solutions are available but the current pace and scale of treatments to meaningfully reduce fuels is insufficient. Our team is uniquely suited to conduct research on multi-faceted solutions to increase treatment efficacy and longevity.

Current Research

Smoke, Air, Fire, Energy (SAFE) in Rural California: Energy and Air Quality Infrastructure for Climate-Smart Communities

Principal Investigators: Peter Alstone, Tesfayohanes Yacob, Deepti Chatti;
Partners: Karuk Tribe, Blue Lake Rancheria, Schatz Energy Lab.
Funding Source: California Strategic Growth Council
Project Description: The SAFE Project’s overall goal is to identify sustainable pathways to climate-smart rural California communities through energy and air quality infrastructure development. In the context of increasing risks from climate change and fire, we are developing and testing plans for using clean energy microgrids, air filtration, particulate matter sensor networks, and other infrastructure to support community-defined goals.The approach we are taking integrates social dimensions of change at its core, with a particular focus on indigenous communities. 

Determining stand condition thresholds to limit fire severity in second-growth redwood forests following wildfire

Principal Investigator: Jeff Kane
Partners: Save the Redwoods League, California State Parks, USDA Forest Service,
Funding Source: Save the Redwoods League
Project Description: The overall objective of this research is to determine stand density thresholds that limit the occurrence of high severity wildfire and whether these thresholds vary depending on fire weather and topographic conditions. The knowledge gained from this research will provide public and private land managers with much needed information regarding the stand and fire conditions that are more resistant to high severity fire under varying topographic and fire weather conditions. Our results will help landowners and managers make informed decisions that will assist them in identifying stand conditions that are most effective at limiting fire severity under a wide range fire conditions and to aid in prioritizing areas for treatment.
Smokey Forest
Post fire vegetation
Post fire