Fire management in the face of rapid climate change: a case study of the Yukon Flats workshop

Abstract

The management of wildfires in Alaska stands as a multifaceted social-ecological challenge without a singular, definitive solution. Due to the influence of climate change, wildfires have evolved in their behavioral patterns, prompting a reevaluation of the effectiveness of existing fire management strategies to accommodate the dynamic requirements of both ecosystems and stakeholders. During the COVID 19 pandemic in 2021, a virtual workshop entitled, "Improving Wildfire Management Decision-Making for the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge: A Workshop," brought together scientists and wildfire managers. This workshop facilitated collaborative discussions on some of the most pressing issues surrounding wildfire management plans for the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. This research assesses the efficacy and efficiency of using a virtual workshop as a platform to facilitate discussions, develop relationships, encourage knowledge transfer between a diverse group of participants, and bring together diverse stakeholders for the purpose of dissecting complex subjects for a more comprehensive understanding of the intricacies inherent to social-ecological concerns, such as wildfire management. This study analyzes one round of surveys and two rounds of interviews conducted with participants in the Yukon Flats Workshop. These surveys and interviews were instrumental in capturing insights regarding the workshop's strengths and limitations, the emergence of novel or improved interpersonal connections, the fundamental values underpinning management, and the impact of the workshop on participants' professional roles. The participants articulated numerous dimensions of the workshop that contributed to the success of communication, frequently underscoring the significance of open-minded participants, the involvement of a boundary-spanning organization, transparent articulation of workshop goals and objectives, as well as the well-organized nature of the workshop itself. However, certain challenges surfaced, with primary emphasis placed on the virtual format of the workshop, which limited informal dialogues and sidebar exchanges. Nonetheless, this research underscores that a virtual workshop, when thoughtfully executed, can serve as an effective platform for uniting fire management practitioners and scientists in discussing the intricate challenges posed by complex social-ecological issues grounded in management planning and other natural resource issues.