Fire Regime Alteration in Natural Areas

Managing public lands today is increasingly difficult in the face of climate change and changing wildfire regimes. Michelle Coppoletta describes the need to restore a key ecological process. Her research took place with colleagues in research natural areas (RNAs), which are a specific type of protected area in California. Ms. Coppoletta offers three solutions to the ongoing wildfires; the need to reduce fuels before the next wildfire, develop wildfire management strategies before they burn, and consider proactive restoration to increase resilience to future disturbance.