Fellow Project: Developing Risk Assessment Tools for Habitat Management in a Changing Climate--Helping Practitioners Achieve Management Goals Now and in the Future Active
Learn about the research of Emily Nastase, a 2023 Science to Action Fellow.
Fellow Information
- Emily Nastase, North Carolina State University
- Fellowship: 2023 Science to Action Fellow
- Mentor: Adam Terando, Southeast CASC
Project Summary
Prescribed fire is an important management tool for maintaining unique habitats and supporting diverse flora and fauna in the US Southeast. However, landscape managers are increasingly being faced with the challenges of implementing prescribed fires to meet multiple ecological objectives, and climate change is escalating these issues. Windows of opportunity to conduct prescribed fires are shrinking due to changing climatic conditions and extreme weather, which can result in unsafe burning conditions for practitioners. This project will address these issues for prescribed fire users in eastern North Carolina. We are developing a model to characterize potential conflicts for meeting prescribed fire objectives and will translate model results into risk assessment tools to help achieve those goals. We are using climate projections and information elicited from conservation managers to characterize risk profiles and build utility functions to inform future management of their system. Together with conservation managers, we will co-produce an approach to address management concerns and identify opportunities to minimize risk associated with the application of prescribed fire as a management tool. The outcomes of this project will inform management decisions of prescribed fire practitioners in eastern North Carolina and ultimately help conserve critical fire-maintained ecosystems across the region.
Learn about the research of Emily Nastase, a 2023 Science to Action Fellow.
Fellow Information
- Emily Nastase, North Carolina State University
- Fellowship: 2023 Science to Action Fellow
- Mentor: Adam Terando, Southeast CASC
Project Summary
Prescribed fire is an important management tool for maintaining unique habitats and supporting diverse flora and fauna in the US Southeast. However, landscape managers are increasingly being faced with the challenges of implementing prescribed fires to meet multiple ecological objectives, and climate change is escalating these issues. Windows of opportunity to conduct prescribed fires are shrinking due to changing climatic conditions and extreme weather, which can result in unsafe burning conditions for practitioners. This project will address these issues for prescribed fire users in eastern North Carolina. We are developing a model to characterize potential conflicts for meeting prescribed fire objectives and will translate model results into risk assessment tools to help achieve those goals. We are using climate projections and information elicited from conservation managers to characterize risk profiles and build utility functions to inform future management of their system. Together with conservation managers, we will co-produce an approach to address management concerns and identify opportunities to minimize risk associated with the application of prescribed fire as a management tool. The outcomes of this project will inform management decisions of prescribed fire practitioners in eastern North Carolina and ultimately help conserve critical fire-maintained ecosystems across the region.