Science–management partnership on climate–fire–ecosystem interactions
A major challenge for natural resource managers in the western United States is anticipating and planning for ecosystem changes caused by complex interactions among climate, wildfire, and vegetation. The Southwest FireCLIME research partnership brings scientists and managers together to support decision-making processes around fire management in a changing climate. The project synthesized current knowledge of regional climate–fire–ecosystem dynamics through a formal science synthesis and annotated bibliography, forecasts of future vegetation change under different climate–fire regimes, adaptation tools including a menu of adaptation options, and a vulnerability assessment tool. Southwest FireCLIME is funded by the interagency Joint Fire Science Program (DOI and USDA-FS). Additional partners include universities and non-governmental organizations.