Terrestrial | Science | Publications & Reports

Wildfires and Forest Resilience: the case for ecological forestry in the Sierra Nevada

Rodd Kelsey

Forests of the Sierra Nevada and across the western U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented increase in the size and severity of wildfire along with widespread tree mortality due to drought and insect outbreaks. These developments not only threaten lives and communities but also seriously compromise forest health and resilience, degrading many important benefits forests provide to people. We know how to manage forests so they are less prone to megafires, drought, and insect and disease outbreaks. Through the use of ecological forestry, we can reduce the accumulated high fuel loads, promote healthier, more resilient forests, reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire at large spatial scales, and protect sensitive species. Unfortunately, the pace and scale of these approaches are inadequate given the widespread scope and long-term consequences of the problem. In this briefing paper, we explain how California's forests became so vulnerable. Then, we make the scientific case for ecological forestry—a combination of strategic thinning, prescribed fire, and managed wildfire—as the best solution to the challenges these forests face.