Fire Ecology and Society

Fire has played the role of ecosystem engineer for millennia in forests, shrublands and grasslands throughout the world. This role has changed over the past two centuries, however, with fire suppression and exclusion, intensifying influence of climate change and sprawling development into fire-prone areas. With the advent of megafires, we are now seeing dramatic changes in the structure and functioning of fire-influenced ecosystems and how fire is addressed with natural resource management and policy. There are significant ecological, social and political implications of these changes, ranging from the listing of fire-adapted endangered species to more rigorous air quality regulations to tragic impacts on human communities. It is becoming more important for citizens to understand both the benefits and the risks associated with fire as it is increasingly impacting people in their daily lives. This course will introduce students to the language, the ecology and the politics surrounding wildland fire and bring awareness and understanding of fire science, application and management. Students will read “Living with Fire: Fire Ecology and Policy for the Twenty-First Century”, along with 16 peer-reviewed articles on associated topics. For their course project, students will research the ignition, spread and ecological/social consequences of a past wildfire event and present this information to their peers. Class meetings and required field trips will be in-person.