CLIMAS: Fire and Climate 2001

•	Bring together key decision makers, information providers, researchers, and managers concerned about climate implications for management of forest fire hazards and prescribed burning.

•	Evaluate the 2000 fire season in the context of information presented at our February 2000 workshop, including an assessment of the utility of the February 2000 workshop for improving fire management. What went wrong? What went well?

•	Examine climate-fire interactions: El Niño, La Niña and ENSO-neutral, present the 2001 climate forecasts, discuss issues regarding interpretation of long-range climate forecasts and forecast uncertainty.

•	Identify specific climate information needs, including: How can climate information be incorporated into management plans? How should a National Climate Service be designed in order to fit the needs of fire managers and decision makers?

•	Move forward on the action plan developed during the February, 2000 workshop and identify resources to accomplish action items.

•	Establish a process for sustaining interactions between fire managers, researchers, and climate forecasters to assure timely and appropriate provision of climate information: What format would best facilitate communication between fire managers and climatologists?

•	Get input on and organize a coherent integrated assessment approach to researching climate impacts on wildfire regimes and related forest and wildland management.