Northwest Fire Learning Network

The Northwest’s dry, fire-prone ponderosa pine and mixed conifer ecosystems are presently experiencing unnaturally severe wildfires, largely as a result of decades of fire exclusion. These fires pose a significant threat to local communities, forests, wildlife habitat and overall ecosystem health. TDeveloping landscape-level plans to manage for these diverse values has been difficult due to a lack of consensus among stakeholders. Using tools that facilitate collaborative visioning and planning, the landscapes in the network are helping stakeholders work together to set priorities for the restoration of ponderosa pine and dry mixed-conifer ecosystems. They are also building understanding and support for planned treatments, thereby speeding up on-the-ground restoration.

Network Landscapes

Partners working at Oregon's 2-million-acre Upper Deschutes Basin are developing and exporting landscape assessment and prioritization tools. Partners are also working to develop a communication plan based on the collaboratively-derived desired future conditions for the landscape.

In Oregon's Applegate Watershed, the local team is working with multiple stakeholders to develop Conservation Action Plans based on social, economic and ecological values and landscape modeling tools. This group also provides technical expertise to a large collaborative that is deciding where restoration projects will occur.