Forestry
FOR 470 - Post-fire Environment
Description: This course examines post-fire environments across a spectrum of impacts and conditions. Post-fire environments are often substantially altered due to mortality of vegetation, hydrological changes, exposure of soils to wind and water erosion, and transformations in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. While some burned areas may not exhibit substantial changes immediately after a fire, future climate adaptations must be considered when managing post-fire environments. Rapid dynamic post-fire effects include downstream movement of ash and sediment, colonization by species adapted to open environments, falling of fire-killed trees, and gradual regrowth of recovering or novel vegetation communities. The human experience in burned wildlands is also affected in ways ranging from safety to aesthetics, economic value to cultural significance. Social and political systems face major challenges following wildfires, such as dealing with flooding, reburns, community recovery and future climate effects. Effective stewardship of burned areas requires understanding these complex, interrelated natural and social factors, as well as the timescale of post-wildfire ecological changes. This course draws on natural and social sciences to provide a comprehensive background for fire and forest managers to deal with the growing proliferation of burned areas. Co-convened with FOR 570. Letter grade only.
Units:
3
No sections currently offered.
Requirement Designation:
Prerequisite: Senior Status or higher