[PCA] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change likely to increase fires

[Harper-Lore, Bonnie]

Thank you.  Sweeping generalizations WILL rush us to knee-jerk solutions
which will have other consequences.
Climate change will require interdisciplinary and thoughtful solutions, 
knowing that the vegetation changes caused by climate change will not
fit our previous understanding of plant dynamics.  
Only change is certain at this point.  We are pioneering, once again, on
earth.
 
Bonnie

  _____  

From: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of
Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 10:29 AM
To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org;
native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org;
rwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: Re: [PCA] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change
likely to increase fires



It's great to see this issue getting more press.  But, I also see where
Wayne is coming from. 

The article below mentions two conditions that will contribute to the
proliferation of invasives in response to global climate change: 

*	fires deposit nutrients into the soil that encourage the growth
of cheatgrass 
*	increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, typically associated with
climate changes, encourages the growth of tough cheatgrass 


I just attended a conference two weeks ago on global climate change and
the effect on local flora in the Appalachians of Maryland and West
Virginia.  One of the speakers mentioned that recent research was
suggesting that invasives would take off with global climate change -
that the hotter, drier conditions will favor them.  He pointed out that
this is not necessarily true.  Microstegium (Japanese stiltgrass), for
instance, which is plaguing the Appalachians is not good at getting into
the drier sites.   

So, although I am pleased at the increased attention to this issue, I
think Wayne's point is well taken.  As plant scientists, it's important
for us to resist the urge to put specific situations into a general
"Inbox."  Different species will react differently in different
environments.  It's our job to explore the possibilities and to help
others understand them without making sweeping generalizations. 

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>




Wayne Tyson <landrest at cox.net> 
Sent by: rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org 

10/12/2007 11:02 PM 

To
Olivia Kwong <plant at plantconservation.org>,
native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org,
apwg at lists.plantconservation.org, rwg at lists.plantconservation.org 
cc
Subject
[RWG] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change likely to increase
fires

	




Invasive plants like the Sahara mustard are quite likely to be a factor
in wildfires, as they fill spaces between widely-scattered shrubs, and
climate change will no doubt affect fire behavior, but I yearn for more
evidence and less opinion and conjecture regarding such sweeping
conclusions.  It makes for good press, but what is needed is good
research and solid data.  Fires have, and will continue to be, a factor
in Great Basin ecosystems, but the real question is what precisely is
the connection between the data and the conclusions, and what is the
marginal difference.  Sensationalism destroys credibility, and "we" need
credibility more than ever in these truly pivotal times.  

WT

At 12:53 PM 10/12/2007, Olivia Kwong wrote: 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_sc/wildfires_climate_change
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_sc/wildfires_climate_change>


Climate change likely to increase fires

By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 11, 8:26 PM ET

LAS VEGAS - Climate change is likely to increase the number of wildfires

fueled by invasive weeds that are spreading throughout the Great Basin, 
researchers told a U.S. Senate subcommittee Thursday.

See the link above for the full article text.


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