Top left: Gary Wood, Coordinator, SE Region, WFLC; Governor Milton Herrera, Pueblo of Tesuque; Interaction with the whole crowd. Credit: Katie Lighthall.
SPECIAL THANKS
We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors and exhibitors who continue to support our efforts to bring education and examples of implementation of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy to a wide variety of Workshop participants each year.
The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy) was born out of the FLAME Act of 2009. The Act called upon the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to develop a cohesive strategy to address the nation’s wildfire challenges. In 2014, following a five-year, nationally inclusive and collaborative effort, the Cohesive Strategy framework was released and was quickly recognized as the common-sense, strategic approach to resolving our nation’s wildfire issues. The original framework was developed and overseen by the WFLC, an active association of America’s top wildland fire management leadership. In May, 2023, the WFLC approved the Cohesive Strategy Addendum and Update, which, taken in tandem with the 2014 document, are now considered the full Cohesive Strategy.
The Cohesive Strategy has enjoyed successful implementation across the nation through the work of WFLC’s three RegionsNortheastern, Southeastern and Western. Each region works with interest- and rights-holders to facilitate understanding and implementation of the Cohesive Strategy and is appreciated as the regional forum for addressing wildland fire issues.
ACHIEVING OBJECTIVES ABOUT US
Incorporated feedback from 2022 Workshop into building the 2023 program.
Familiarized participants with the Cohesive Strategy Addendum Update.
Curated sessions around current challenges and topics from the three regions of the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC).
Emphasized the importance of effective communication and demonstrated its critical role in the successful implementation of the Cohesive Strategy.
Developed and coached sessions for collaborative interaction that produced outcomes: resolving challenges, solving problems, better understanding topics, and making commitments for post-workshop action.
Cover photo: Bear Carrillo, DEI Consultant, The National Center for Cultural Healing. Credit: Marjie Brown.
HIGHLIGHTS
Leadership from the southwest region held a candid fireside chat about some of the unforeseen realities of the Hermits PeakCalf Canyon Fires. The US Forest Service, New Mexico Bureau of Land Management, the New Mexico Land, Mineral, and Natural Resources Department and FEMA are adapting to the increased need for effective communication, collaboration and transparency. Together they are learning to support each other across boundaries to address the immense challenges that must be overcome for future success in the southwest. These fires put a spotlight on and amplified the public misunderstanding and distrust of prescribed fire; the need for pre-fire mitigation and planning for the full spectrum of post-fire realities; and the need for increased cross-boundary fuels treatments with a focus on landscape-scale resiliency. Together they are approaching these challenges with a renewed energy for true collaboration and engagement.
Participants heard from Joel Iverson, Steven Venette and EJ Davis about Changing the Wildfire Narrative for Meaningful Action. Effective communication is about creating shared understanding through listening, caring and empathy. The trio detailed how re-framing our traditional approaches can greatly help the way audiences understand our wildland fire challenges and respond appropriately. They encouraged participants to engage with university extension, social science and community partners to help craft appropriate communication around wildland fire-related topics for better decision-making, understanding and support of activities that make progress toward the three Cohesive Strategy goals.
From left: Michiko Martin, Regional Forester, Southwest Region, USDA Forest Service; Melanie Barnes, State Director, New Mexico Bureau of Land Management; Laura McCarthy, State Forester, New Mexico Land, Mineral, and Natural Resources Department; Matt Embry, Interagency Recovery Coordinator, FEMA; Katie Lighthall, Coordinator, WFLC Western Region. Credit: Alison Mims.
From left: Joel Iverson, Professor of Communication, University of Montana; Steven Venette, Professor, School of Communication, University of Southern Mississippi; Emily Jane Davis, Director of Extension Fire Program, Associate Professor, College of Forestry, Oregon State University. Credit: Katie Lighthall.
Five seasoned and experienced individuals took the stage to share a story about an opportunity to strategize differently that presented itself during the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Fire over the summer. After a significant rain event, Incident Commander Dan Dallas and his Operations Chief Brad Pietruszka outlined a non-traditional approach to take advantage of the weather and low-end conditions, and fire out previously constructed control features to provide some needed benefit to the landscape. The local Karuk, Yurok and Hoopa Tribal members and community were supportive of the plan because it mimicked what the Tribes had done for hundreds of years. The push-back came from firefighters who had not experienced a strategy other than “put it out.” Although the strategy seemed somewhat radical, it was a perfect opportunity to think about the future needs of the landscape and culture there, in addition to the suppression needs of the current fire. The story provided a terrific example of implementing the Cohesive Strategy during a fire response and the need to communicate with EVERYONE in our organizations about thinking outside the “put it out” strategy.
Christopher Dunn and Tim Holschbach shared Lessons Learned from the Oregon Fire Hazard Mapping Experience including lessons about engaging the public, the importance of timing, public expectations, effective communication, state governance and the legislative process.
From the left: Brad Pietruszka, Wildfire Risk Management Science Team, RMRS; Dan Dallas, Incident Commander, USFS Region 2; Dave Calkin, Research Forester, RMRS; Chris Dunn, Wildfire Risk Management, College of Forestry, Oregon State University; Bill Tripp, Director of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, Karuk Tribe. Credit: Katie Lighthall.
From left: Tim Holschbach, Deputy Chief, Protection from Fire Division, Oregon Department of Forestry; Chris Dunn, Assistant Professor of Wildfire Risk Science, Oregon State University. Credit: Katie Lighthall.
Centered around interactive round-table discussions, the session delivered by Bear Carrillo, titled The Complexity of Your DEI Initiative involved participants exploring the definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion, and practical DEI implementation at organizational and programmatic levels. With a focus on equity, increased access, inclusion, and diversity, attendees discussed the development and effectiveness of their organizations’ programs.
Across the US, the Department of Defense has hundreds of military installations that experience numerous wildland fires each year. Anne Jewell detailed how the DoD embraces the Cohesive Strategy and is not only investing resources inside their own boundaries to treat hazardous fuels across landscapes, harden structures and address evacuation, but they too, are collaborating across boundaries with adjacent communities to support their resiliency and fire adaptation.
Bear Carrillo, DEI Consultant, The National Center for Cultural Healing. Credit: Marjie Brown.
Anne Jewell, CF, Program Manager, Wildland Fire & Emergency Services Environmental Planning and Conservation, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment and Energy Resilience. Credit: Katie Lighthall. 7
Zander Evans facilitated The Case for Managed Wildfire with Stephen Filmore, Michael Caggiano and David Huffman. Participants gained new insights into the how, when, and why of using managed wildfire as a tool. Discussions also covered existing knowledge gaps, limitations, and opportunities for managed wildfire.
In Igniting Change: Advancing Wildland Fire Management for a Resilient Future, Jonathan Bruno and Jennifer Gustafson guided participants to consider specific, community-based innovations that directly address the effectiveness of our collective ability to learn to live with wildland fire.
Jonathan Bruno, CEO, Coalitions and Collaboratives.
Credit: Katie Lighthall.
From left: Dr. Zander Evans, Executive Director, Forest Stewards Guild; Stephen Filmore, Regional Fuels Operations Specialist, USDA Forest Service. Credit: Katie Lighthall.
FIELD TOUR
“The Forest Stewards Guild was honored and excited to lead the coordination of the field tour for the 2023 Cohesive Strategy Workshop in Santa Fe. The speakers and stop locations reflected the long history of partnership in the Santa Fe area and beyond.
Gabe Kohler Forest Stewards Guild
Photos of the Field Tour courtesy of the Forest Stewards Guild.
OUTCOMES
Each year the Cohesive Strategy Workshop partners with organizations who have valuable information to share with Workshop participants seeking additional, focused opportunities. One of these pre-Workshop opportunities is the Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices training delivered by Coalitions and Collaboratives COCO. Brad Wright and Steve Spangler connected with Jonathan Bruno of COCO about putting on the same training in their home state of Virginia. The result was a successful convening in Pulaski County, Virginia with over 25 local, state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations
Photos courtesy of Brad Wright, Pulaski County Emergency Management.
EXPECTATIONS 2024
Attaining Wildfire Resilience through Collaboration