World Wood Day Foundation and International Wood Culture Society (IWCS) are honored to work with Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), to present a series of videos: Fire in the West.
 
In the last few decades, wildfires in the west have become an increasing problem for the USA. Through presentations and discussions with experienced researchers, we would like to open a conversation to the public about how and why wildfires occur and hope to bring more awareness and understanding about them. 
 
In this video, we have invited Dr. Sharon M. Hood, Research Ecologist with Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) and Jessica Brewen, Science Delivery specialist with RMRS. Hosted by Steve Ambrose, retired Forest Service employee and now volunteer for IWCS, this presentation and discussion focuses on two elements that impact forests directly: wildfire and bark beetles. In her demonstration, Dr. Hood explains how fire effects tree defenses and forest resistance to bark beetles; and how we could create resilient conditions in forests to withstand beetle outbreak and other disturbances.

Outlines:

Presentation by RMRS Research Ecologist: Dr. Sharon M. Hood- 
Effects of compound disturbances in ponderosa pine forests.  
#Wildfire and bark beetle both are both common disturbances.   
#How changes in fire regime affect bark beetles.
#Bark beetle and tree defenses.
#Resin ducts and resin flow vs. bark beetle attack.
#Fire and resin ducts.
#How fuel treatments affect forest resistance to mountain pine beetle.

Group discussion: Q&A 
#What causes the bark beetle outbreaks.
#Climate and resin production.
#Tree ages and resin ducts.
#Fires and resin ducts.
#How resin protect trees from beetles. 
#How beetles survive in fires.
#Mountain pine beetles’ outbreak.
#Difficulties with fuel treatments against bark beetles.
#Progression of bark beetle attacking.
#Bark beetles study and prevention across countries.

More information about Wildland Fire Management Strategy:
https://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/thestrategy.shtml

More information about RMRS and Fire Fuel & Smoke Program:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/science-program-areas/fire-fuel-and-smoke

More questions? Contact our presenters!
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/people/shood