Fire Ecology and Society

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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, the intensifying influence of climate change, and sprawling development within the "wildland urban interface." 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, cultural, 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 more important than ever to understand the benefits and risks associated with fire and the value of Indigenous fire stewardship for both sustainable land management and the restoration of Tribal sovereignty.

This course will introduce students to the language, ecology, culture, and politics surrounding fire and bring awareness and understanding of fire science, cultural burning, and prescribed fire application and management. Students will read “Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia” by Victor Steffensen, along with 16 peer-reviewed articles on associated topics. For their course project, students will research the various components of a fire management plan for a restoration site and present this information to their peers. Class meetings and one required field trip will be in-person.

In-person Class Format: This course is offered fully in-person. Students should expect to attend in-person for all class periods. We cannot promise to offer remote attendance options due to illness or other absences. Students should strategize methods for getting notes from class when attendance is not possible.

Class Schedule: Monday nights, 6:00 pm-10:00 pm, PST

Qualified undergraduates may be enrolled in an undergraduate CRN for this course with faculty signature approval