Increased Risk Of Catastrophic Wildfires: Global Warming's Wake Up Call For The West

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“The massive wildfires raging in California this summer are symptomatic of a trend toward more fires burning larger areas
in the Western United States over the past few
decades,” said Dr. Amanda Staudt, climate scientist, National Wildlife
Federation.
Usfws_burn_2

“Global warming can explain part of this trend,” Dr. Staudt
said, “because it is feeding longer fire seasons, drier conditions, and more
lightning. According to recent studies, the fire season stretches about 78 days
longer and individual fires last about 30 days longer.”

Increased Risk of Catastrophic Wildfires: Global Warming’s
Wake-Up Call for the Western United States
–to
be released by telephone press conference on Thursday–will detail how:

  • Global Warming Makes Forests More Susceptible to Fire
  • Past Forest Management
    Makes Forests More Susceptible to Fire
  • Large Wildfires Put Unnatural Stress on Ecosystems
  • Large Fires Make Global Warming Worse
  • To Reduce Risks and Prepare for Future Fires

On August 14, 2008, D
r. Staudt will be
joined by Dr. Steven W. Running, University of Montana College of Forestry and
Conservation; Tom France, National Wildlife Federation Regional Executive
Director, Missoula; and Wayne Williams, Smokejumper Foreman, Smokejumper
Center, Missoula, to talk about the latest scientific research on global
warming and wildfires, forest management policies, and how to better prepare
for a new era of wildfires.

Published: August 12, 2008