Nature Night - The Era of Megafire
Join Dr. Paul Hessburg for an engaging, multimedia presentation about wildfire, its natural role in our Central Oregon forests, and how that role has changed. Learn how we’ve interrupted the natural fire cycle of our forests and how, with a rapidly warming climate, we are experiencing more of these megafires.
The Era of MegafireThe year 2017 was a record fire year with 9.1 million acres burning in the U.S. More than 680,000 acres burned in Oregon alone, in at least 33 different fires, one of which was a megafire that burned 191,000 acres. Join Dr. Paul Hessburg for an engaging, multimedia presentation about wildfire, its natural role in our Central Oregon forests, and how that role has changed. Learn how we’ve interrupted the natural fire cycle of our forests and how, with a rapidly warming climate, we are experiencing more of these megafires. Dr. Hessburg will discuss the many options we have to reshape the wildfire problem, and how we all can learn to better live with the coming wildfires.
***This event is free, but registration is required. Registration opens February 20th.***
About Paul Hassburg
Dr.
Paul Hessburg is a nationally and internationally recognized research
scientist in the fields of landscape and fire ecology, and forest
health. He works for the Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research
Station, and is an affiliate Professor at the University of Washington.
Paul has been studying historical and modern era forests of the inland
West for the last 38 years. His work documents large changes in forest
conditions and how these changes, along with climate change, have set
the stage for large and severe wildfires. Paul is passionate about
creating healthier forests for many generations to enjoy.
