The Southwest Fire Science Journey: Lessons from the Rearview, New and Unfamiliar Routes, and Promising New Horizons

As wildland fire scientists, managers, educators, and students in the Southwest, we find ourselves in an era of rapid change and in need of new approaches, well-planned investments, and meaningful collaborations. Typical land and fire management strategies no longer suffice in the face of escalating challenges posed by more intense fires and the impacts of climate change on precipitation patterns and temperatures. While recent and substantial investments aim to tackle these issues, they often operate on timelines that are misaligned with natural processes. Simultaneously, a cultural shift is imperative—one that recognizes our integral connection to fire-prone lands, embraces the evolving reality of wildfire and ecosystem transition, and equally respects the knowledge held by Indigenous and land grant communities of the Southwest. At this pivotal juncture, we advocate for a reflective pause to better understand the past, present, and future of the fire science journey in the southwestern US. The integration of past insights with modern approaches is paramount as we invest in creating resilient landscapes and peoples of tomorrow.

We invite proposals on topics related to fire ecology, science, and management with a focus on results and lessons learned that are applicable to the Southwest. We are especially interested in proposals for sessions and presentations that focus on the following topics:

• Biodiversity and fire
• Climate adaptation
• Collaborative and cross-jurisdictional case studies
• Cultural fire
• Education and workforce development
• Fire-adapted communities and Firewise
• Invasive species and fire
• Lessons learned in science and management
• Planning for resilience in uncertain future
• Post-fire recovery