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Loss of Old-growth Forest to Fire

Prescribed Fire for Forest Management Series

Loss of Old-growth Forest to Fire

Feb. 4, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 p.m. CT

Fire suppression and past selective logging of large trees have fundamentally changed frequent-fire-adapted forests in California. The culmination of these changes produced forests that are vulnerable to catastrophic change by wildfire, drought, and bark beetles, with climate change exacerbating this vulnerability. Management options available to address this problem include mechanical treatments (Mech), prescribed fire (Fire), or combinations of these treatments (Mech + Fire).  All three active treatments (Fire, Mech, Mech + Fire) produced forest conditions that were much more resistant to wildfire than the untreated control and Mech + Fire improved forest resilience the most. There are multiple pathways for achieving success in Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests.

PRESENTER

Scott L. Stephens, Ph.D.

Professor, Environmental Science, Policy & Management, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California Berkeley

Scott Stephens is interested in the interactions of wildland fire and ecosystems. This includes how prehistoric fires once interacted with ecosystems, how current wildland fires are affecting ecosystems, and how future fires and management will influence people and ecosystems. He is also interested in wildland fire and forest policy and how it can be improved to meet the challenges of the coming decades, both nationally and internationally. Working with Indigenous partners to learn how to steward ecosystems into the future with climate change is a key area of research.

Stephens has given testimony on fire and forest policy at the US House of Representatives, the White House, California Assembly and Senate, California Governor’s office, and severed on the 2024 US Wildfire Commission. He is on the Board of Directors of the Climate Wildfire Institute and is one of the leaders of The Stewardship Project which is a partnership of Indigenous people and western science to improve federal fire policy. He was selected in the Top 1% of Researchers Worldwide in 2024 and 2025.

MODERATOR

TBA

TBA Soon

Additional Resources

Continuing Education

This webinar was pre-approved for the following:

Please contact wfc@uwsp.edu for more information.

Resources

Resources coming soon.

 

 

Evaluation

The Wisconsin Forestry Center and the webinar presenters appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. An evaluation link will be posted by Feb. 4, 2026.

WEBINAR SPONSORS

Sponsorships available! Learn more about sponsoring this series.