Vegetation and Wildfires Webinar: Bridging Science and Action
The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is hosting a series of webinars, Indicators of Climate Change: Bridging Science and Action, as part of its efforts to track and report on climate change and its impacts on California. Each webinar will synthesize new science and data, and showcase state, local, Tribal or community actions on a selected climate change topic. OEHHA will co-convene each webinar with one or more state agency partners with responsibilities relating to the topic.
Webinar #1: Impacts on vegetation and wildfires
This webinar, co-convened with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), addressed the impacts of climate change on California’s forests and woodlands, with a focus on wildfires.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm
The webinar recording is available on OEHHA's YouTube channel.
AGENDA
Opening remarks/Introductions
Jamie Lydersen, Senior Environmental Scientist, CAL FIRE Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP)
California’s Forests and Rangelands – Climate Change Indicators from the 2024 Assessment
This presentation will provide a summary of the climate change related findings from the upcoming 2024 CAL FIRE FRAP Forest and Rangeland Assessment. Topics will include climate, fire and forest related indicators, as well as a discussion of responses and opportunities.
Frank Lake, Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Tribal Liaison
California Tribal Approaches: Adapting to climate change and fostering socio-ecological resilient forests
This presentation will include examples of conducting research and working with northwestern California Tribes to understand how climate change is impacting forests, Tribal approaches for climate adaptation, and processes for building resiliency through Indigenous knowledge, fire and forest and forest stewardship.
Ryan Tompkins, UC Cooperative Extension Forest & Natural Resource Advisor, University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources
California forest change in the 21st century: Climate exacerbated alignment of density, drought, & disturbance
California forests have undergone immense change, and in the 21st century this has translated to loss of forest ecosystems. This talk will discuss what forest resiliency is, how forest are changing due to 21st century disturbances, and how we can re-think and steward our forests into the future.
Q&A and discussion
Closing comments; next webinar