Considering the Impacts of Scale to Wildlife in Prescribed Fire Planning

PANEL DISCUSSION: Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM EST
 

It is widely recognized that many or most of our fire-dependent landscapes and species are suffering from a fire deficit. In an effort to increase area treated by fire, a common strategy is to conduct larger, often landscape-scale broadcast burns. Larger burns can also reduce financial costs. However, the ecological impacts on wildlife may not be equal or beneficial across treatment scales; for example, specialist species and those with restricted ranges could be disproportionately impacted.

 

In this Fueling Collaboration panel discussion, we will explore the trade-offs in the role of scale in prescribed fires. Our panelists will present their experiences and discuss research around fire effects on various taxa and operational considerations. We will explore strategies for increasing area burned without negatively impacting unique systems or at-risk species.​

This panel discussion has pending approval for 1.5 Category 1 CFE's by the Society of American Foresters.