The Role of Fire for Forest Resiliency with Jed Meunier

On this week's show will talk to Jed Meunier about the important role fire can play in the forest. Jed—like his great-Grandfather and well-known Conservationist Aldo Leopold—sought fire in the forest in restoration projects and to meet ecological needs. Jed will discuss how fire was historically important, its more recent fall-out as a tool in forest management and conservation, and its importance and practice today. 

Jed Meunier is an ecologist and research scientist within the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. Jed has expertise in disturbance ecology which translates well into management issues whether that is harvest of wildlife or timber, understanding natural disturbance like fire, or the use of fire to meet particular management objectives. His dissertation research was on fire ecology in northern Mexico investigating spatial and temporal aspects of fire in relation to climate and land-use. Jed received his M.S. in the wildlife ecology department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the first of its kind in the country started by his great-grandfather Aldo Leopold. Jed considers himself lucky to spend his time asking questions and through applied research to assist in the management of our many treasures.