Conversations on Fire in the Southwestern United States
On September 4, 2024 climate service providers in the Southwest hosted the first in a series of virtual climate conversations. The USDA Southwest Climate Hub, the Climate Assessment for the Southwest, and the South Central and Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Centers joined forces to create a space to learn from leaders advancing wildfire resilience via a novel reforestation center, cultural burning, and forest sustainability and reforestation.
• Dr. Matt Hurteau is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico. His research focus is on climate change mitigation and adaptation in forest systems. Matt presented about advances in post fire recovery and the New Mexico Reforestation Center.
• Dr. Beth Rose Middleton is a Professor in the Department of Native American Studies and the Yocha Dehe Endowed Chair in California Indian Studies and the University of California, Davis. She is joined by Landin Thunder Noland. Landin is a PhD student in Ecology at UC Davis. As an Indigenous student, Landin's interdisciplinary research centers Indigenous land stewardship practices and native community via the use of cultural fire. He seeks to forward Indigenous led land management initiatives and eco-cultural revitalization for the benefit of Native communities throughout California. They presented on cultural fire as a climate adaptation.
• Melvin Hunter Jr. He is member of the Hualapai Tribe and employee of Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Region as a Supervisory Regional Forester. What he enjoys most about his job is providing opportunity within Indian Country through the disciplines of Forestry, Wildland Fire, and Hazardous Fuels Reduction. He presented on Forest Sustainability and Reforestation.
Following the presentations participants discussed wildfire in the Southwest in small break-out rooms.
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