WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT IN ALBERTA

Natural Disturbance Workshop December 10, 2009Kevin Quintilio ASRD

Wildland Fire Management

Drivers of changeWhere we have come fromHealthy Landscape Approach

Old forests, bugs & climate change?Law of diminishing returnsStakeholder expectationsBudget cuts

Drivers of change

Bridgeland Photo 1912

Repeat Photo 2007

1900 1920 1960 19801940 2000

Time

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2020 2040 2060

Decision SupportOperational Capability

Fire Complexity Science and Technology

Prescribed Fire Wildland Fire Use

Wildland Fire Complexity and CapabilityWildland Fire Complexity and Capability

Presented at “The ’88 Fires: Yellowstone and Beyond. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. September 22-27, 2008”.

FUTURE OF WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

FIRE COMPLEXITYORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITYSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYDECISION SUPPORTPUBLIC ACCEPTANCEDEMAND FOR PBBUDGET / CAPACITY

Future Forests, Future Fires, Future Risk

Age class correction in the forest of East slopesArea burned increase at the high elevationFire severity increaseMega fire events more frequentSuppression resource levels will be insufficient during multiple mega fire events

1. Integration of wildland fire response with landscape objectives

2. Science and research needs3. Risk management framework4. Wildfire priority setting protocols5. Appropriate response policy shift6. Economic decision making approach

Healthy Landscape Approach

Future Forests, Future Fires, Future Risk

Future Forests, Future Fires, Future Risk