Fire-adapted natural climate solutions to reduce wildfire emissions in US forests
| Authors: | Charles M Truettner, Kendall DeLyser Roney, Lisa M Markovchick, Elizabeth R Pansing, Xanthe J Walker, Michelle C Mack, Nicholas T Link, Mitch Sternberg, Matthew D Hurteau, T Ryan McCarley, Kenneth J Davidson, Hugh Safford, Katharyn A Duffy, Nicole Molinari, Derek J Churchill, Patrick Holmes, Rose A Graves, Danny Norlander, Marin E Chambers, Solomon Z Dobrowski, John S Gunn, Christina M Restaino, Samuel W Flake, Clay Trauernicht, Antony S Cheng, Camille S Stevens-Rumann, Kerry L Metlen, Christian P. Giardina, Victoria M Donovan, Leslie Boby, Jed Meunier, Caitlin Littlefield, Miranda D Redmond, Brian E Jackson, Christopher W Swanston, Andrew T Hudak, Brian Kittler |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biag128 |
| Source: | BioScience |
Abstract
Wildfire activity and associated greenhouse gas emissions are increasing across US forests as climate change intensifies fire weather and fuel aridity. These trends challenge forest-based natural climate solutions (NCS) that prioritize carbon accumulation without accounting for wildfire-driven disturbance risk. We synthesize current science and regional expert knowledge to define fire-adapted NCS as forest-based climate mitigation strategies that reduce long-term wildfire emissions while sustaining forest carbon, sequestration capacity, and ecosystem function under changing climate and fire regimes. Across US forests, beneficial fire, forest thinning and biomass utilization, and climate-informed reforestation can stabilize carbon stocks and support post-fire recovery when aligned with regional fire regimes, vegetation, fuels, governance contexts, and workforce capacity. We frame fire-adapted NCS as a carbon stewardship strategy embedded within integrated fire risk management, emphasizing long-term wildfire emissions reduction, forest resilience, and carbon durability over maximizing short-term carbon stocks.