In preparation for Wildfire Awareness Month beginning in May, Mountain Studies Institute is gearing up for its 4th annual Forest & Fire Learning Series that will take place every Thursday in April 6-7pm. This livestream e-vent will feature a Q&A session following presentations intended to educate and engage our community on a variety of topics that include wildfire management, fire-adapted communities, the connection between wildfires and water, adaptations to the challenges of 2020, the chemistry of wildfire smoke and air quality, seasonal outlooks for 2021, and personal stories of living with fire.

For our 3rd evening in a series of 5 evening e-vents, Emily Hohman will be explaining how 2020 was a challenging fire year across the US, with significant wildfire impacts and reductions in prescribed fire activity in some regions. Despite these challenges, many prescribed fire practitioners successfully worked with their communities and collaboratives to innovate solutions and put good, beneficial fire on the ground. Emily will look back at lessons learned and key successes from across the US Fire Learning Network before we look forward at strategies for success in 2021, including the on-going prescribed fire partnership with the San Juan National Forest.

Lo Williams will follow up with a conversation about the challenges and successes of 2020 brought to the San Juan National Forest (SJNF). These include human impacts due to increased use of national lands as well as project accomplishment thanks to innovative strategies, strong community engagement, and support from local collaboratives. With lessons learned from 2020, Lo will share the foundations that were laid this past winter to prepare for the 2021 field season and how the SJNF and its partners are planning for the future.

SPEAKERS
- Emily Hohman: Fire Learning Network Manager, North America Fire, The Nature Conservancy
- Lo Williams: Partnership and Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Forest Service

We invite you to join the conversation, ask questions, and help to inform a community approach to living with fire!

Photo: Michael Remke