Topic: Wildland Fire and Invasive Species

Date: November 8, 2021

Time: 12:15-1:45 pm (Eastern)

Place: Due to COVID-19 precautions, there will be no live audience

Webcast Only: Microsoft Teams Live Event

Facilitator: Hilary Smith, Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Policy Analysis 

Panelists:

·        Wildland Fire Leadership Council, Mike Zupko

·        Office of Wildland Fire (DOI), Kristy Swartz

·        Bureau of Land Management, Michele Crist

·        U.S. Forest Service, Rob Progar

·        National Invasive Species Council, Stas Burgiel

Closed captioning (CC) is available. Just click the CC button on the viewer that comes up on Teams.

The magnitude of recent fire seasons has heightened awareness of the Nation’s wildfire crisis. In many areas throughout the U.S., the spread of invasive plants has contributed to an increase in the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires. This panel will highlight the intertwined dynamics of wildland fire and invasive species, with experts addressing the underlying science and ecology, as well as agency perspectives and management strategies from the invasive species and wildland fire communities. This will also include looking at the different stages of the wildfire and invasive species management cycles: proactive pre-fire planning and fuels treatment, wildfire response, and post-fire stabilization and restoration. The panel will conclude with a discussion on integrating efforts at different scales as well as on potential opportunities for future collaboration across the invasive species and wildland fire management communities.