From: Principles of Effective USA Federal Fire Management Plans
Climate adaptation approach | Example(s) |
---|---|
1. Development of ecoregional Fire Management Plan | Proposed federal FMP for southern Sierra Nevada ecoregion (NPS, FS, BLM) |
2. Use of cross-jurisdictional demonstration landscapes to facilitate shared learning | Kings River watershed with extensive science and monitoring infrastructure to test climate adaptation strategies implemented across administrative boundaries (NPS, FS) |
3. Adaptive seasonality in fire management operations | Greater use of wildland fire for resource objectives during winter months and following wetter winters |
4. Fuel treatment prioritization and restoration informed by climate vulnerability assessment | Prioritize climate refugia for fuel treatment and restoration efforts; facilitate or accept transitions in high vulnerability areas (e.g., projected loss of coniferous forests) |
5. Fewer operational constraints for the use of wildland fire | Greater flexibility in GMP, RMP, or LRMP standards and guidelines, such as more flexible Limited Operating Periods (LOPs) related to prescribed fire |
6. Development of post-fire “climate-smart” restoration strategies | Focus post-fire reforestation efforts (e.g., tree planting) in areas that will support forests of the future with climate change; consider more drought-tolerant species in seedling mixes (e.g., oaks) with wider and more variable spacing to facilitate future heterogeneity and resilience (FS) |
7. Adjust fire operations during large and severe wildfires | Avoid the creation of larger high-severity fire patches resulting from burnout and mop-up operations to protect partially unburned refugia that aid post-fire recovery |