Burning Questions: Effects of Fire on Ecosystems
Wednesday March 13, 2019 12:00pm-1:00pm
The Old Church - Smithers, BC
About the presentation
The changing climate has resulted in significant changes in fire regimes in BC and elsewhere. BC just experienced two of the most severe fire seasons on record. Evelyn’s presentation will outline some of the implications of predicted changes in climate on fire regimes, associated resource management challenges, and options for addressing them. Some of the work currently underway in BC to address these challenges will be highlighted. She will also discuss the possible implications of more frequent and intense wildfires on BC ecosystems, as well as the pros and cons of proposed strategies for reducing landscape flammability and wildfire risk, including the increased use of prescribed burning.
About Evelyn Hamilton, President, Hamilton Ecological Consulting
Evelyn Hamilton worked in the Research Branch of the BC Forest Service for much of her career. She started as a Field ecologist working on fire ecology and ecosystem classification. Before retiring in 2010, Evelyn managed the Ecology and Earth Sciences Section, a team of research scientists and technicians in fields including plant ecology, soils, hydrology, wildlife, range, silviculture, fisheries, non-timber forest products, climate and carbon. She was involved with many initiatives including ecosystem classification and process research, and old growth and biodiversity conservation. She also led the Ministry’s climate change adaptation program for several years. Evelyn was an adjunct faculty member at Royal Roads University and recently established a small consulting firm. Her recent work has been on non-timber forest products, response of ecosystems to fire, and adaptation to climate change. Evelyn received her BSc in Biology from UBC and her MSc in Plant Ecology from the University of Alberta.
