Scientists and forest managers use many indicators to report things like treated acres or programs delivered. But those indicators do not always show the real impacts of forest management (such as having more of the right plant species or reducing health risks). In addition, different teams choose indicators separately, and they often rely on existing data without considering how meaningful it is for understanding real-world conditions.

Objectives

This project will:

• Study research and information from different fields related to the Wildfire Crisis Strategy.
• Estimate how much different factors matter when evaluating the outcomes of forest management actions.
• Create a monitoring framework to measure and track meaningful outcomes related to the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and other planning efforts.

Expected Results

Photo Credit

Courtesy photo by the Ozark Trail Association.

A U.S. Forest Service employee goes through a checklist on a clipboard.

Outputs

Scientists will provide a criteria and indicators framework for the Wildfire Crisis Strategy that is useful both nationally and locally. This framework will help forest and fire managers make decisions based on solid science.

Expected Outcomes

• People who need a reliable and consistent set of rules (in other words, ‘criteria and indicators’) will be able to use this framework.
• The framework will be useful for planning, monitoring, adapting, and evaluating different factors related to forests.

Metrics of Success

In the next 3 to 7 years, the research team will look at a few different things to see if the framework is working well:

• How much people use it: Do people find it helpful and use it?
• How easy it is to use: Do people think it is user-friendly?
• Progress in monitoring: Can people track how well things are going and adjust their plans?
• Accuracy of monitoring: Do the framework’s indicators provide reliable information?
• Impact: How much does the framework actually help with managing forest conditions?

Geographies and High-Risk Landscapes to be Addressed

National: This study aims to build a useful set of criteria and indicators that is relevant for both general conservation efforts and the Wildfire Crisis Strategy in particular.