Wildfires often bring to mind images of whole forests engulfed in flames. But in the United States, grasslands and shrublands are the largest areas burned by wildfires near humans, according to research led by professor of forest and wildlife ecology Volker Radeloff PhD’98.

The study, published in November 2023 in Science, notes that grasslands and shrublands are much more widespread than forests; and fires that affect these areas burn and move faster, meaning grassland fires can spread to a larger number of homes. The study also found that the greater risk of wildfire in grasslands is not deterring the development and rebuilding of homes in those areas, which has significant implications for policy and community preparation.

This article was posted in Changing Climate, Economic and Community Development, Findings, Healthy Ecosystems, Summer 2024 and tagged Forest and Wildlife Ecology, grasslands, shrublands, Volker Radeloff, wildfire.