Fire Science Exchange Network
Stored: Fire Science Exchange Network
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Joint Fire Science Program |
| Top Organization | Department of the Interior |
| Creation Legislation | Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | FSEN connects wildland fire scientists and managers to share research. It delivers science-based solutions for fire management across 15 regions. |
| Program Start | 2010 |
| Initial Funding | Not publicly specified |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Fire Science Exchange Network (FSEN) is a national program sponsored by the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) under the Department of the Interior, designed to bridge the gap between wildland fire science and its practical application by land managers, practitioners, and policymakers. Established to enhance the dissemination and adoption of fire science research, FSEN operates through 15 regional exchanges that deliver current, regionally relevant information to federal, tribal, state, local, and private stakeholders, fostering collaboration and addressing complex wildfire challenges across ecologically similar regions.
Goals
- Accelerate the awareness, understanding, and use of wildland fire science by stakeholders.
- Facilitate collaboration between scientists and practitioners to address regional fire management needs.
- Deliver science-based solutions through over 2,500 annual events, targeting key groups like federal agencies and academia.
- Improve fire science application, aiming for measurable impacts like increased adoption of research in management decisions.
Organization
The Fire Science Exchange Network is organized under the Joint Fire Science Program, a partnership between the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, with the JFSP Governing Board setting priorities and funding policies. The network comprises 15 regional exchanges, each staffed by local experts who tailor science delivery to their ecological region (e.g., Southern Fire Exchange, Alaska Fire Science Consortium). Funding comes from JFSP’s annual budget, appropriated by Congress, with $9.9 million allocated in FY 2023. The program’s leader holds the title of "JFSP Program Manager," overseeing network coordination and strategy.
Partners
- Bureau of Land Management
- National Park Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. Forest Service
History
FSEN was launched in 2010, building on the Joint Fire Science Program’s creation under the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998, which established JFSP in 1998 to fund fire research. A 2009 JFSP needs assessment revealed barriers to applying research, prompting the network’s formation to improve science delivery. Key milestones include over 20,000 participants in FSEN activities by 2023 and evaluations like the 2021 USGS assessment refining its focus. FSEN continues to evolve, with plans to address emerging topics like climate change impacts on fire regimes.
Funding
FSEN’s funding is channeled through JFSP, with initial support starting in 2010, though exact initial amounts are not publicly specified, integrated within JFSP’s broader budget. In FY 2023, JFSP received $9.9 million, part of which sustains FSEN’s operations, including events and outreach. Funding, ongoing via annual Congressional appropriations, supports research and exchange activities, with no end date planned. Additional resources come from partner agency contributions and in-kind support.
Implementation
FSEN is carried out through its 15 regional exchanges, employing methods like webinars, workshops, field tours, and social media (over 8,700 posts by 2023). Each exchange focuses on regional needs, delivering science via publications and over 2,700 events annually. The program operates continuously, with no defined end, adapting strategies based on evaluations and stakeholder feedback to enhance fire management practices nationwide.
Related
External links
- https://www.firescience.gov/JFSP_exchanges.cfm
- https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfire/joint-fire-science-program
Social media
- None identified at the network level; individual exchanges may have accounts