Climate Change Experts Available to Discuss Wildfire, Smoke, and Air Quality

As the state of California grapples with the devastating consequences of wildfires and poor air quality, experts from the University of California, Davis, are available to provide insight and guidance on the complex issues surrounding climate change. The state's recent efforts to address these challenges have led to the creation of various initiatives and programs aimed at mitigating the risks associated with wildfires and promoting forest resilience. Climate change experts at UC Davis, including Malcolm North, Hugh Safford, John N. Williams, and James Thorne, are prepared to discuss the latest research and findings on climate change, wildfire, and air quality.

Key Takeaways:

• Malcolm North, a forest ecologist with the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region, is available to discuss climate change impacts on wildfire and forest management. North's expertise includes climate change, forest ecology, and fire management.
• Hugh Safford, a research ecologist in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, can discuss climate change adaptation, fire and vegetation ecology, wildfire risk mitigation, forest and ecosystem management, ecological restoration, and science application and translation. Safford has a background in working for the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region.
• John N. Williams, an ecologist and project scientist in the Safford Lab at UC Davis, studies the effects of natural and prescribed fire on forest ecosystems. He coordinates the California State Parks Wildfire and Forest Resilience Monitoring Program and contributes to the California Prescribed Fire Monitoring Program, a joint effort between UC Davis and Cal Fire.
• James Thorne, a research scientist with the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, can discuss the vulnerability of California's vegetation to climate change over the coming decades. He also addresses issues related to water, ecosystems, conservation, and land use.

Statistics:

• The Pacific Southwest Region, where North is based with the USDA Forest Service, has experienced a significant increase in wildfires in recent years, with the number of acres burned per year more than doubling since the 1980s.
• According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), in 2021, the state experienced an unprecedented 10,804 wildfires, burning over 2.2 million acres.
• The University of California, Davis, has a dedicated climate change research program, with multiple research areas focused on climate change, including atmospheric sciences, water, wildlife, agriculture, energy, and transportation, and community resilience.

Sources:

• Malcolm North is a forest ecologist with the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region and an adjunct professor at UC Davis.
• Hugh Safford is a research ecologist in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy and chief scientist of Vibrant Planet, an environmental public benefits corporation that works in wildfire risk mitigation and climate change.
• John N. Williams is an ecologist and project scientist in the Safford Lab at UC Davis.
• James Thorne is a research scientist with the Department of Environmental Science and Policy.
• USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region.
• University of California, Davis.
• CAL FIRE.