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California is now one of the global hotspots for wildfire‑driven deforestation, according to new research led by UC Davis forest and fire ecologist Dr. Hugh Safford. A study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change finds that between 1991 and 2023, California lost an estimated 6–11% of its conifer forests, with rates of fire‑driven forest loss far exceeding the global average.

The lab of Dr. Hugh Safford at UC Davis is looking to hire crew members for a seasonal field team to collect data on the effects of vegetation management/fuel reduction and wildfire on forest vegetation, fuels, plant diversity, and other pertinent variables over periods of 5-25 years since sites were affected by wildfire. 

This work will support management efforts by the US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the California Tahoe Conservancy.

The Wildfire Science & Technology Commons is hosting the ShrubWISE Data Challenge, an open competition focused on improving high-resolution mapping of shrub ecosystems using geospatial data and machine learning. The challenge invites researchers, students, and data scientists to develop workflows that can map shrub cover and height at ~1-meter resolution—information that is critical for understanding fuels, wildfire behavior, and ecosystem dynamics.

The competition runs from February 19 to April 19, 2026, with results announced on May 1, 2026.

Under the general supervision of the PI the 6 Field Crew positions will consist of two different crews (three people in each), working one after the other to a maximum of 1000 hours each. The Field Crew positions require following several established data collection protocols. The protocols relate to measuring shrub species and some trees; to destructively sample individuals of target species; to collect litter; and to sample soils.

The 2021 Caldor Fire stands as one of the most significant wildfires in recent western U.S. history, scorching more than 222,000 acres and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. Yet within the Lake Tahoe Basin, the communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers experienced what forest managers have called the “Christmas Valley miracle”—a striking example of how strategic pre-fire treatments can protect both forests and people’s homes. 

The research team, led by Hugh Safford and his students and collaborators, were surprised to find Jeffrey pines at elevations above 11,000 feet—which is several thousand feet higher than where the species has long been documented. 

To find them, the team hiked rugged terrain: over 240 miles, 24 peaks, and multiple weeks of fieldwork including off-trail boulder fields and high alpine slopes. 

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Andrea Duane, a postdoctoral scholar in the Safford Lab, has been recognized with the 2025 UC Davis Postdoctoral Excellence Award. This prestigious award celebrates her outstanding contributions to wildfire ecology research and her commitment to mentorship and outreach within the scientific community.

We are proud to share that Dr. Hugh Safford, research faculty at the University of California, Davis, has been selected for the Fulbright Specialist Program in partnership with the Missouri Botanical Garden in Madagascar.

Dr. Hugh Safford’s lab at UC Davis is seeking to hire an undergraduate student to conduct laboratory work on a project involving vegetation, fuels, biomass, and prescribed fire monitoring. The project utilizes plot sampling, destructive biomass sampling, and Terrestrial Lidar Systems (TLS).

This position supports the project "Scaling Up Science-Based Vegetation Treatments for a Wildfire-Resilient California" a collaboration between UC San Diego, CAL FIRE, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and USF.

On the shores of Lake Tahoe at Emerald Bay State Park grows what some consider to be the most iconic old-growth forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Giant ponderosa pines — some of the last remaining in the area — share space with at least 13 other tree species.

A study published in Biological Conservation examines how price fluctuations and conservation payment schemes influence crop diversification and forest conservation among vanilla farmers in Madagascar. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists and lead by Marie Fleming, a Ph.D.

The Northern California Botanists hosted their 13th Annual Botanical Symposium on January 13-14, 2025, at the California State University, Chico. The event brought together renowned botanists, researchers, and plant enthusiasts to delve into the latest discoveries and innovations in the field.

This work will support the project 'Scaling Science-Driven Vegetation Treatments for a Wildfire Resilient California,' a collaboration between UC San Diego, CAL FIRE, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and USF. 

The Forest and Fire Ecology Random Lectures (FFERAL) series, a collaborative educational program sponsored by the California Fire Science Consortium and hosted by the Safford Lab at the University of California, Davis, kicks off its 2025 season with an engaging lineup of expert speakers.

The 8th Mediterranean Forest Week (8MFW) took place from 11 to 15 November in Barcelona, ​​Spain. The Mediterranean Forest Week (MFW) is a biennial event that serves as a platform for cooperation between researchers, policy makers and stakeholders, fostering dialogue on the challenges facing Mediterranean forests.