Restore or maintain fire in fire-adapted ecosystems

Fire management can be difficult in urban settings due to potential impacts to the built environment and public health. Where possible, fire can be an important management strategy in supporting ecosystem function and resilience. Where ecological or social constraints limit the application of prescribed fire, alternative management strategies (i.e., fire surrogates) can provide similar benefits.

The changing climate may alter the complex interactions among climate, vegetation, and landforms, resulting in changes in hydrology, soil quality, and nutrient cycling. Urban areas often involve further complications because of the greater likelihood that human activities have already significantly altered ecosystem functioning and will continue to do so. Urban conditions are often characterized by difficult growing conditions, including impermeable surfaces, air and water pollution, frequent human interaction, and small soil volumes. Existing guidelines and best management practices for forest management describe actions that can be used to reduce or reverse impacts to soil and water. Many of these actions are also likely to be beneficial in the context of adaptation, although additional effort may be required to maintain ecosystem function in urban areas.