Connecting Research to On-the-Ground Wildfire Priorities

PFX strives to serve the needs of wildfire practitioners, island communities and landscapes by working with our partners to identify and pursue relevant science and research across the Pacific region.

2014 Stakeholder Priorities

In 2014, wildfire stakeholders prioritized knowledge about pre-fire management; prevention, outreach, and education; wildland urban interface; after-fire response; wildfire suppression; collaboration; drivers and impacts of wildfire and the use of technologies. These priorities provided a road map for PFX products and activities and a resource to identify and develop research that meets on-the-ground needs (right). Read more here about these stakeholder priorities.

Current Wildfire Research Needs

PFX engages in many questions concerning the relationship of fire to the natural and built (human) environment. This include understanding how the climate crisis is impacting fire outcomes in the Pacific. In addition, building a better understanding of the social, cultural, economic and human dimensions of fire are critical Pacific Island research needs.

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Wildfire Research Regions

savanna-forest mosaic on Yap

Federated States of Micronesia

Guam2

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

Hawaii

Hawai‘i

Hawaii

Hawai‘i – old

Hawai`i Island: Leilani Fire, August 12, 2022

Hawai‘i Island

Kauai Fire Ignitions Heat Map 2012-2020

Limahuli Kaua`i, June 2019.  (Credit: Mike Walker, DLNR)

Kaua‘i

Lahainaluna, Maui, Aug 2018 (Credit: Hank Oppenheimer)

Maui Nui (Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe)

Makaha Valley, O`ahu, Aug 2018. (Credit: Clay Trauernicht)

O‘ahu

Palau

Republic of Palau

Recent Resources for Researchers

Identifying & Controlling Fire Prone Invasive Grasses in Hawai‘i

August 29, 2023

Some introduced grasses in Hawai`i are especially fire prone and present challenges to land owners, land stewards and those concerned with the spread of wildfire. This ID guide is a quick reference to identify and control fire-adapted grasses.

After Fire Presentation: Understanding Immediate Priority Actions After a Significant Wildfire to Ensure Recovery

August 29, 2023

After fire, there are immediate actions you can take to ensure a recovery for the people first of all, soil and water conservation

Changing Climate & Wildfire in Hawai‘i: Current Observations & Future Projections

December 19, 2022

New climate projections for Hawai‘i are based on historical rainfall, and future climate scenarios, such as the footprint of highest fire risk is expected to increase in extent and move upwards in elevation while fire risk may decrease in the driest low elevation areas. This fact sheet summarizes the latest climate change research as it relates to wildfire.