Natural resources conference addresses fire issues

In the wake of last fall's devastating Southern California wildfires, UC Cooperative Extension natural resources advisors are gathering in Palm Desert March 4 and 5 to discuss wildfire reasons, resilience and recovery. The news media have been invited and have shown interest, so the likelihood is high the conference will result in press coverage. A news release distributed by the UC Riverside news service is available online.

The conference begins with field trips the morning of the 4th to areas burned by recent wildfires -- one on desert landscape, the other on mountainous terrain. Afternoon workshops and an evening poster session -- where UC scientists from around the state share their research results -- round out the day.

On Thursday, scientists will make presentation to answer these and other questions:

• Why do some houses burn in a wildfire while others are spared?
• How should homeowners maintain fuel breaks around structures?
• Is the practice of seeding burned areas is effective?
• What are good, fire-safe landscaping practices?
• What are the ecological and environmental drivers of fire frequency?

I'll post links on this blog to any media coverage of the natural resources continuing conference as articles appear.

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