Southern Fire ExchangePutting Fire Science on the Ground

University of FloridaNorth Carolina State UniversityTall Timbers Research Station

USFS Southern Research Station

A JFSP Regional Consortium

Why A Regional Consortium?

Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) proposal to develop, “regional consortia of fire science providers and managers to enhance fire science delivery and adoption”

Diverse resources & existing partnerships in the South

Opportunity to enhance coordination among the resources & partnerships

Channel back to JFSP about new research needs

The Bigger Picture: JFSP Knowledge Exchange Consortia

Vision - national network to accelerate the awareness, understanding, and adoption of wildland fire science information by federal, tribal,

state, local, and private stakeholders within ecologically similar regions.

JFSP Consortia: The Process

Stage 1 (2009) Regional needs assessment of fire

science delivery mechanisms and opportunities

Design and plan a long-term fire science information delivery network and system

Stage 2 (2010 - ??) Implement and evaluate regional

consortia

Stage 1: Identify what a consortium could and should do… in the South

Scope: Focus on southern pine

ecosystems Emphasize issues

associated with prescribed fire use

Public & private lands

Needs assessment Focus groups in 6 states Electronic survey of

3500 people (~1000 responses)

What did they say?Common Suggestions Work within existing

groups, frameworks, and professional networks

Increase researcher – manager interaction

Increase information flow to private owners

Focus on prescribed fire Provide a one-stop

searchable internet platform

Un-met Information Needs

Fire effects – systems, seasons, species

Southern fuels – characterization & fire behavior modeling

Smoke – models, monitoring systems & effects

Public perceptions re Rx fire Public & private outreach

(success, guides) Updated best management

practices Fire science library

(augment, update)

Preferred Tech Transfer Methods

Digital and internet platforms Single source web-

based fire science library

Workshops & training courses (‘hands-on’ is important)

Professional networking, including with scientists

PFC’s

Putting Fire Science on the Ground

Stage 2: Implementation of the Southern Fire Exchange

Activity 1: One-Stop Website

One stop internet platform Build on the FRAMES Southern Fire Portal

(http://frames.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt) On-line discussion forum and directory Map of research–demonstration locations Searchable research summaries Calendar of events Searchable links to other websites

▪ Southern Fire Encyclopedia (www.forestencyclopedia.net)

▪ Tall Timbers Database (http://www.talltimbers.org/fedb-intro.html)

Activity 2: Dissemination of Products

Experiential learning and networking Advertise existing workshops, meetings,

courses Develop modules/ pre-recorded

presentations Field days & demonstrations Webinars on topics identified by end users Regional conference

Activity 3: Product DevelopmentNewsletter articles- public and

private land managersResearch synthesesPowerPoint presentations Updates for Fire Encyclopedia and

FEIS (

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/)Fact sheets for variety of audiences

Managers, policy makers, general public Private landowners

Activity 4: Public EducationDistribute fact sheets designed for

the publicCollaborate with TTRS & SGSF

campaign

Other Key ActivitiesEvaluations –

across all consortia – electronic specific to each region and individual

activities

Feedback from end users to JFSP on top regional research needs

Leda Kobziar, lkobziar@ufl.eduAnnie Oxarart, oxarart@ufl.edu

Toddi Steelman, toddi_steelman@ncsu.edu Joe Roise, joe_roise@ncsu.edu

Kevin Robertson, krobertson@ttrs.org Alan Long, ajl2@ufl.edu

Annie Hermansen-Baez, ahermansen@fs.fed.us

Contacts

Your input? Key themes or topics that SFE should

address Opportunities to help you coordinate

science applications on the ground Questions you want answered (about fire!) How can SFE contribute to your programs

for training, workshops, webinars, etc?

Submit ideas/questions to sfe@ifas.ufl.edu