Earth s Future,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
11(3)
Published: March 1, 2023
Abstract
Forests
sequester
∼25%
of
anthropogenic
carbon
(C)
emissions
annually
and
are
increasing
interest
for
their
potential
as
Nature‐based
Climate
Solutions
(NbCS).
Emergent
from
the
need
to
assess
terrestrial
ecosystem
health
quantify
C
storage
fluxes,
several
gridded
products
documenting
changes
in
stocks
over
time
have
been
developed.
However,
researchers
not
yet
systematically
compared
distributions
across
products,
or
developed
a
clear
path
forward
investigating
leveraging
this
cross‐product
uncertainty
estimates
C.
Alaniz
et
al.
(2022,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002560
)
synthesize
multiple
published
constrain
distribution
forest
fluxes
globally.
Building
off
results,
we
comment
on
opportunities
advancing
both
basic
science
NbCS
policy
recommendations
through
systematic
product
cross‐comparisons
targeting
areas
with
differing
levels
uncertainties
sink.
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
22(5), P. 1049 - 1091
Published: Feb. 1, 2023
Terrestrial
organisms
and
ecosystems
are
being
exposed
to
new
rapidly
changing
combinations
of
solar
UV
radiation
other
environmental
factors
because
ongoing
changes
in
stratospheric
ozone
climate.
In
this
Quadrennial
Assessment,
we
examine
the
interactive
effects
ozone,
climate
on
terrestrial
biogeochemical
cycles
context
Montreal
Protocol.
We
specifically
assess
organisms,
agriculture
food
supply,
biodiversity,
ecosystem
services
feedbacks
system.
Emphasis
is
placed
role
extreme
events
altering
exposure
potential
biodiversity.
also
address
responses
plants
increased
temporal
variability
radiation,
change
(e.g.
drought,
temperature)
crops,
driving
breakdown
organic
matter
from
dead
plant
material
(i.e.
litter)
biocides
(pesticides
herbicides).
Our
assessment
indicates
that
interact
various
ways
affect
structure
function
ecosystems,
by
protecting
layer,
Protocol
continues
play
a
vital
maintaining
healthy,
diverse
land
sustain
life
Earth.
Furthermore,
its
Kigali
Amendment
mitigating
some
negative
consequences
limiting
emissions
greenhouse
gases
carbon
sequestration
vegetation
pool.
Ecological Applications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
34(2)
Published: Nov. 10, 2023
Abstract
Fire
suppression
and
past
selective
logging
of
large
trees
have
fundamentally
changed
frequent‐fire‐adapted
forests
in
California.
The
culmination
these
changes
produced
that
are
vulnerable
to
catastrophic
change
by
wildfire,
drought,
bark
beetles,
with
climate
exacerbating
this
vulnerability.
Management
options
available
address
problem
include
mechanical
treatments
(Mech),
prescribed
fire
(Fire),
or
combinations
(Mech
+
Fire).
We
quantify
forest
structure
composition,
fuel
accumulation,
modeled
behavior,
intertree
competition,
economics
from
a
20‐year
restoration
study
the
northern
Sierra
Nevada.
All
three
active
(Fire,
Mech,
Mech
Fire)
conditions
were
much
more
resistant
wildfire
than
untreated
control.
included
lowest
surface
duff
loads
hazards.
low
hazards
beginning
7
years
after
initial
treatment
had
lower
tree
growth
controls.
only
competition
somewhat
similar
historical
California
mixed‐conifer
was
Fire,
indicating
stands
under
would
likely
be
resilient
enhanced
stressors.
While
reduced
hazard
reintroduced
fundamental
ecosystem
process,
it
done
at
net
cost
landowner.
Using
mastication
thinning
resulted
positive
revenues
also
relatively
strong
as
an
investment
reducing
hazard.
represents
compromise
between
desire
sustain
financial
feasibility
reintroduce
fire.
One
key
component
long‐term
conservation
will
continued
maintain
improve
restoration.
Many
Indigenous
people
speak
“active
stewardship”
one
principles
land
management
aligns
well
need
for
increased
western
US
forests.
If
we
do
not
use
knowledge
20+
research
longer
tradition
cultural
practices
knowledge,
frequent‐fire
continue
degraded
lost.
Ecological Informatics,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
81, P. 102601 - 102601
Published: April 16, 2024
Accurate
wildfire
severity
mapping
(WSM)
is
crucial
in
environmental
damage
assessment
and
recovery
strategies.
Machine
learning
(ML)
remote
sensing
technologies
are
extensively
integrated
employed
as
powerful
tools
for
WSM.
However,
the
intricate
nature
of
ML
algorithms
often
leads
to
'black
box'
systems,
obscuring
decision-making
process
significantly
limiting
stakeholders'
ability
comprehend
basis
predictions.
This
opacity
hinders
efforts
enhance
performance
risks
exacerbating
overfitting.
present
study
proposes
an
innovative
WSM
approach
that
incorporates
qualitative
quantitative
feature
selection
techniques
within
Explainable
AI
(XAI)
framework.
The
methodology
aims
precision
provide
insights
into
factors
contributing
model
decisions,
thereby
increasing
interpretability
predictions
streamlining
models
improve
performance.
To
achieve
this
objective,
we
SHapley
Additive
exPlanations
(SHAP)-Forward
Stepwise
Selection
(FSS)
method
demonstrate
its
efficacy
elucidating
impacts
predictors
on
algorithm
performance,
accuracy,
designed
Utilizing
post-fire
imagery
from
Sentinel-2
(S2),
analyzed
ten
bands
generate
225
unique
spectral
indices
utilizing
five
different
calculations:
normalized,
algebraic
sum,
difference,
ratio,
product
forms.
Combined
with
original
S2
bands,
resulted
235
potential
classifications.
A
random
forest
was
subsequently
developed
using
these
optimized
through
extensive
hyperparameter
tuning,
achieving
overall
accuracy
(OA)
0.917
a
Kappa
statistic
0.896.
most
influential
were
identified
SHAP
values,
FSS
narrowing
them
down
12
critical
effective
WSM,
evidenced
by
stabilized
OA
values
(0.904
0.881,
respectively).
Further
validation
ninefold
spatial
cross-validation
technique
demonstrated
method's
consistent
across
data
partitions,
ranging
0.705
0.894
0.607
0.867.
By
providing
more
accurate
comprehensible
XAI-based
research
contributes
broader
field
monitoring
disaster
response,
underscoring
analysis
models'
capabilities.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(32)
Published: July 29, 2024
In
this
review
and
synthesis,
we
argue
that
California
is
an
important
test
case
for
the
nation
world
because
terrestrial
biodiversity
very
high,
present
anticipated
threats
to
from
climate
change
other
interacting
stressors
are
severe,
innovative
approaches
protecting
in
context
of
being
developed
tested.
We
first
salient
dimensions
California's
physical,
biological,
human
diversity.
Next,
examine
four
facets
threat
their
sustainability
these
posed
by
change:
direct
impacts,
illustrated
a
new
analysis
shifting
diversity
hotspots
plants;
interactive
effects
involving
invasive
species,
land-use
change,
stressors;
impacts
changing
fire
regimes;
land-based
renewable
energy
development.
recent
policy
responses
each
areas,
representing
attempts
better
protect
while
advancing
adaptation
mitigation.
conclude
ambitious
30
×
Initiative
its
efforts
harmonize
conservation
with
development
areas
progress.
Adapting
traditional
suppression-oriented
policies
reality
regimes
area
which
much
progress
remains
be
made.
Global Change Biology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
28(22), P. 6789 - 6806
Published: Sept. 12, 2022
Nature-based
climate
solutions
are
a
vital
component
of
many
mitigation
strategies,
including
California's,
which
aims
to
achieve
carbon
neutrality
by
2045.
Most
offsets
in
California's
cap-and-trade
program
come
from
improved
forest
management
(IFM)
projects.
Since
2012,
various
landowners
have
set
up
IFM
projects
following
the
California
Air
Resources
Board's
protocol.
As
these
approach
their
10th
year,
we
now
opportunity
assess
effectiveness,
identify
best
practices,
and
suggest
improvements
toward
future
protocol
revisions.
In
this
study,
used
remote
sensing-based
datasets
evaluate
trends
harvest
histories
37
California.
Despite
some
current
limitations
biases,
can
be
quantify
accumulation
rates
offset
project
lands
relative
nearby
similar
"control"
before
after
began.
Five
lines
evidence
that
accumulated
date
has
generally
not
been
additional
what
might
otherwise
occurred:
(1)
most
forests
northwestern
accumulating
since
at
least
mid-1980s
continue
accumulate
carbon,
whether
enrolled
or
not;
(2)
were
high
large
timber
company
initiation,
suggesting
they
earning
credits
for
recovery;
(3)
often
located
on
with
higher
densities
low-timber-value
species;
(4)
yet
increased
enroll
as
projects,
pre-enrollment
levels;
(5)
decreased
initiation.
These
patterns
should
robustly
measure
reward
additionality.
general,
our
framework
geospatial
analyses
offers
an
important
independent
means
effectiveness
program,
especially
data
products
improving
receive
attention
strategy.
International Journal of Wildland Fire,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
32(7), P. 1039 - 1058
Published: May 22, 2023
Over
the
past
four
decades,
annual
area
burned
has
increased
significantly
in
California
and
across
western
USA.
This
trend
reflects
a
confluence
of
intersecting
factors
that
affect
wildfire
regimes.
It
is
correlated
with
increasing
temperatures
atmospheric
vapour
pressure
deficit.
Anthropogenic
climate
change
driver
behind
much
this
change,
addition
to
influencing
other
climate-related
factors,
such
as
compression
winter
wet
season.
These
climatic
trends
associated
increases
fire
activity
are
projected
continue
into
future.
Additionally,
related
suppression
Indigenous
use
fire,
aggressive
and,
some
cases,
changes
logging
practices
or
fuel
management
intensity,
collectively
have
produced
large
build-ups
vegetative
fuels
ecosystems.
Human
activities
provide
most
common
ignition
source
for
California’s
wildfires.
Despite
its
human
toll,
provides
range
ecological
benefits
many
Given
diversity
vegetation
types
regimes
found
state,
addressing
challenges
will
require
multi-faceted
locally
targeted
responses
terms
management,
human-caused
ignitions,
building
regulations
restrictions,
integrative
urban
ecosystem
planning,
collaboration
Tribes
support
reinvigoration
traditional
burning
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
9(45)
Published: Nov. 10, 2023
The
increasing
frequency
of
severe
wildfires
demands
a
shift
in
landscape
management
to
mitigate
their
consequences.
role
managed,
low-intensity
fire
as
driver
beneficial
fuel
treatment
fire-adapted
ecosystems
has
drawn
interest
both
scientific
and
policy
venues.
Using
synthetic
control
approach
analyze
20
years
satellite-based
activity
data
across
124,186
square
kilometers
forests
California,
we
provide
evidence
that
fires
substantially
reduce
the
risk
future
high-intensity
fires.
In
conifer
forests,
is
reduced
by
64.0%
[95%
confidence
interval
(CI):
41.2
77.9%]
areas
recently
burned
at
low
intensity
relative
comparable
unburned
areas,
protective
effects
last
for
least
6
(lower
bound
one-sided
95%
CI:
years).
These
findings
support
transition
from
suppression
restoration,
through
increased
use
prescribed
fire,
cultural
burning,
managed
wildfire,
presuppression
precolonial
regime
California.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
120(15)
Published: April 3, 2023
Wildfire
modifies
the
short-
and
long-term
exchange
of
carbon
between
terrestrial
ecosystems
atmosphere,
with
impacts
on
ecosystem
services
such
as
uptake.
Dry
western
US
forests
historically
experienced
low-intensity,
frequent
fires,
patches
across
landscape
occupying
different
points
in
fire-recovery
trajectory.
Contemporary
perturbations,
recent
severe
fires
California,
could
shift
historic
stand-age
distribution
impact
legacy
uptake
landscape.
Here,
we
combine
flux
measurements
gross
primary
production
(GPP)
chronosequence
analysis
using
satellite
remote
sensing
to
investigate
how
last
century
California
impacted
dynamics
fire-affected
A
GPP
recovery
trajectory
curve
more
than
five
thousand
forest
since
1919
indicated
that
fire
reduced
by
[Formula:
see
text]
g
C
m[Formula:
y[Formula:
text]([Formula:
text])
first
year
after
fire,
average
prefire
conditions
y.
The
largest
forested
(n
=
401)
took
two
decades
recover.
Recent
increases
severity
time
have
led
nearly
MMT
CO[Formula:
(3-y
rolling
mean)
cumulative
forgone
due
landscape,
complicating
challenge
maintaining
California's
natural
working
lands
a
net
sink.
Understanding
these
changes
is
paramount
weighing
costs
benefits
associated
fuels
management
for
climate
change
mitigation.
Remote Sensing of Environment,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
298, P. 113842 - 113842
Published: Oct. 12, 2023
Mapping
forest
disturbances
is
paramount
to
carbon
monitoring,
estimating
environmental
drivers,
and
developing
strategies
enhance
resilience.
Existing
change
products
from
Landsat
Sentinel-2
have
improved
our
understanding
of
large-scale
disturbance
patterns;
however,
their
relatively
coarse
spatial
resolution
(10
30-m)
leads
the
use
mixed
pixels
which
constrains
application
for
detecting
heterogeneous
survival
or
mortality
outcomes
occurring
at
level
individual
trees
canopies.
PlanetScope
multispectral
imagery
3-m
near-daily
frequency
offers
new
capabilities
detect
monitor
diverse
tree
patterns
following
across
landscapes.
This
research
proposes
a
framework
canopy-scale
(3
×
3-m)
tree/shrub
using
monthly
time
series.
A
3D
Spatio-Temporal
Convolutional
Neural
Network
(ST-CNN)
deep
learning
model
was
designed
fully
utilize
context
temporal
unique
canopy
As
crucial
component
training
robust
scalable
models,
large
set
labels
collected
via
semi-automatic
workflow
by
combining
pre-disturbance
lidar
crown
segmentation
post-disturbance
aerial
interpretation.
We
applied
15
wildfires
in
California
2018–2021.
sampled
1,176
384
384-m
scenes
burned
areas
with
pre-fire
lidar,
containing
>1.8M
shrub
polygons
labeled
as
dead
alive
wildfire.
Evaluated
an
independent
testing
dataset,
optimized
ST-CNN
detects
representing
accurately
align
observed/labeled
data.
Tree
detection
accuracy
high
stable
Sierra
Nevada
North
Coast
Mountains
ecoregions
(user's
=
83%–86%;
producer's
81%–82%),
but
decreased
slightly
within
sparser
Central
Foothills
South
77%–81%;
58%–61%)
often
due
confusion
between
mortality.
Producer's
increased
height
remained
(>75%)
on
canopies
taller
than
11-m.
Further,
sensitivity
analysis
demonstrates
performance
benefits
and/or
convolutions
architecture
prediction.
Lastly,
we
demonstrate
scalability
regional-scale
all
2020
(∼1.6
Mha
burn
area).
The
wall-to-wall
post-fire
maps
showed
overall
rate
58.8%,
ranging
32%
94%
among
fires.
trained
provides
ecologically
detailed
estimation
composition
(trees,
shrubs,
non-woody)
(survival
mortality)
post-disturbance.
These
data
will
improve
higher
monitoring
assessment
impacts,
allow
better
vulnerability,
support
management
actions.