By Tom Mark

Forest Expert Discusses Wildfires At OK College Vernon

Sep 25, 2017 | 11:58 AM

The wildfire season may be coming to an end but Okanagan College and the Okanagan Science Centre is holding an event to keep wildfires top-of-mind.

The Science in Society Speaker Series will bring UBC Forest Ecology professor Lori Daniels to the Vernon campus October 4th to discuss fires and climate change.

Daniels, who is also director of the Tree-Ring Lab at UBC in Vancouver, says

“It’s important to recognize that despite the destruction, wildfire is also an essential process in forest ecosystems. In the wildland-urban interface though they can be incredibly destructive. What is imperative is the adaptation of individuals and communities learning how to live with wildfire.”

Daniels present her long-term forest fire patterns research and speak about forest resilience to climate change.

Open Burning Ban

Vernon, RDNO, Enderby to ban campfires Friday

14h ago

Unsuccessful Alternate Approval Process

Public opposes borrowing for Swan Lake Wastewater Recovery Project

14h ago

Waiving Property Taxes

Coldstream tax exemption submissions due July 31

16h ago

“Wildfire is driven by climate, weather and fuels that vary among ecosystems and through time. Combined, land-use change, fire exclusion and global warming have made many forests highly susceptible to intense fires that are difficult to control and spread to large sizes. Revolutionizing forest and fire management will improve ecosystem resilience to climate change, but we will not stop future fires from burning.”

Daniels’ research, published in leading academic journals, applies tree-ring analyses to investigate disturbance patterns and the impacts of climate and humans on forest dynamics.

Given her interests in conservation and sustainable resource management, much of her research has practical application and is collaborative with non-governmental organizations, government agencies and private companies.

Admission to the lecture is $7 in advance or $10 at the door.

For advanced tickets call the Okanagan Science Centre at 250-545-3644 or purchase them online at www.eventbrite.ca.

To subscribe or obtain more information visit okanagansisss.wordpress.com.

Presented jointly by Okanagan College and the Okanagan Science Centre, the Science in Society Speaker Series is sponsored by the Vernon Lodge and Conference Centre, Starbucks Coffee, Save on Foods, and the Vernon Morning Star.

Since April the BC Wildfire Service has reported 1,275 fires across the province, representing a burning area of more than 1.212 million hectares. Currently 123 wildfires are active.

by Tom Mark