Fire Ecologists Project Climate Will Complicate Fighting Forest Blazes

[hatrack]

A recent report published by an assembly of global fire ecologists indicates recent climate change will hinder our ability to manage wildland fire and apply prescribed fire across the landscape.

The Association for Fire Ecology's report, "San Diego Declaration on Climate Change and Fire Management," says that considering future drought and high heat scenarios it is possible that fires can become larger more quickly and be more difficult to manage. Fire suppression costs may continue to increase, with decreasing effectiveness under extreme fire weather and fuel conditions. Extreme fire events are likely to occur more frequently."

Association president Robin Wills says the increases in wildfire occurrence and severity are a new reality that society as a whole must be prepared to cope with.

"Abrupt climate change can lead to rapid and continuous changes that disrupt natural processes and plant communities," the Declaration continues. "Managers are not safe in assuming that tomorrow's climate will mimic that of the last several decades.
The Associations report indicates that increasing temperatures are projected to result in broad-scale alteration of storm tracks thereby changing precipitation patterns.

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http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=59585&issue=08302006