Wildfire
Resources for Resilience & Recovery
Wildfire. It’s been a part of California’s ecosystem for thousands of years, but it’s often misunderstood. In the Golden State, fire season typically stretches from late summer through fall. In recent years, however, fire season is growing longer and the fires themselves more severe. In 2020, California experienced its worst recorded fire season. Find out why and what you can do to make your home and community more resilient to wildfire.
Landscaping and maintenance for fire resilience
Working from the home out: The role of native plants
Learn about fire recovery and resilience
Explore Regional Resource Kits and Regional Profiles
Learn more about your region with this publicly available resource from the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force.
Learn from the CNPS Wildfire Research Database
Read research papers on wildfire topics like effects on ecosystems, protecting communities, and more.
Read the CNPS Scientific Journal
Dive into expert analyses of the challenges posed by California’s wildfires and proposed solutions.
What causes wildfires?
Climate change brings more extreme weather such as intense heat, drought, and strong winds. So when a fire begins, it can quickly get out of control. Long-term fire suppression policies have also led to an unnatural buildup in vegetation and dense forests. Indigenous people have long practiced cultural burning as a way of tending the land. These controlled burns, referred to as “good fire,” along with prescribed fire reduce wildfire severity and help ensure the survival of plants that rely on wildfire to germinate.
Fire is a part of life
Indigenous Ecologies
Cultivating Fire, Plants, and Climate Futurity
Regrowth and Resilience
Surveying post-fire regrowth
Tracking Rare Plants
Looking for rare plants post-fire
In the news
Make your voice heard in support of California’s native plants.
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