Location: Range Management Research
Title: An atlas of solutions to water scarcity in the SouthwestAuthor
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SILBER-COATS, NOAH - New Mexico State University |
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STEELE, CAITRIANA - New Mexico State University |
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HROZENCIK, AARON - Economic Research Serivce (ERS, USDA) |
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TANNER, SOPHIA - Economic Research Serivce (ERS, USDA) |
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Ostoja, Steven |
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Williamson, Jebediah - Jeb |
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YAO, YIQING - University Of California |
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Elias, Emile |
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Holguin, Jennifer |
Submitted to: Proceedings American AGU Chapman Conference on the GIS in the Vadose Zone
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2023 Publication Date: 2/16/2024 Citation: Silber-Coats, N., Steele, C., Hrozencik, A., Tanner, S., Ostoja, S.M., Williamson, J.C., Yao, Y., Elias, E.H., Holguin, J. 2024. An atlas of solutions to water scarcity in the Southwest. Proceedings American AGU Chapman Conference on the GIS in the Vadose Zone. Abstract. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Wildfires pose significant threats to human health, safety, and cultural heritage, with devastating impacts on native Hawaiian ecosystems. Key ecosystem impacts include losses of native species, enhanced spread of non-native plant species (D’ Antonio et al., 2011), and decline in the health of nearshore environments (e.g., see Hamilton et al., 2022). Across the state of Hawai'i, wildland fire risk and burned areas have increased dramatically, especially in the 21st century (Trauernicht et al., 2015a; Hawbaker et al., 2017). Our understanding of the drivers of wildfires in Hawai'i is improving (Trauernicht et al., 2015a; Hawbaker et al., 2017), but relative to continental ecosystems, wildfire research, fire management, and fire mitigation strategies in Hawai'i remain limited (Trauernicht et al., 2015a; Trauernicht, 2019; Ritchey, 2022). Here, we provide an overview of fire management strategies and challenges for Hawai'i, with a focus on prescribed burning. We describe historical uses of fire and associated land cover changes, current wildfire trends and drivers of those trends, the potential utility of prescribed burning in Hawai'i, and the broad challenges associated with prescribed burning and fire management in general. We conclude by discussing possible future research and management directions. |