In the late summer of 2022, the Mosquito Fire approached UC Berkeley’s Blodgett Forest Research Station in the Sierra Nevada. Rob York, associate professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM), had spent ten years using prescribed burns to reduce fire risk at Blodgett. While he was concerned about potential damage to research infrastructure, York trusted that their efforts would protect the forest.
“I was worried about the buildings and my office, but I was never worried about the forest,” said York. According to him, when the wildfire reached areas that had undergone treatment, its intensity lessened and firefighters were able to contain it.
This incident highlights how strategic forest management can help mitigate catastrophic wildfires. Across California, similar stories are emerging as researchers and land managers seek ways to address increasingly severe fires. Many UC Berkeley researchers are now working directly with policymakers and forest managers to apply scientific findings in real-world settings.
The growing frequency of large wildfires in California is linked to climate change and over a century of fire suppression policies. These approaches have led to an accumulation of combustible material in forests, making them more vulnerable to intense fires. The consequences include loss of property, premature deaths from smoke exposure, significant carbon emissions, and widespread destruction of natural landscapes. For communities in regions like the Sierra Nevada, effective fire management is essential for both safety and economic stability.
UC Berkeley’s Rausser College of Natural Resources plays a role in these efforts by analyzing natural and human systems through multiple scientific perspectives while promoting sustainable strategies for resource protection (https://nature.berkeley.edu/). The college emphasizes research on resource management and ecology (https://nature.berkeley.edu/), supporting equitable access to resources through community programs (https://nature.berkeley.edu/).
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