Fire ecology

As a Minnesota native, I have an active interest in the ecology and conservation of our beautiful state, particularly in fire ecology and management policy. The northen forests of Minnesota are uniquely adapted to fire! However, incorporating intentional burns into modern forest management is a complicated endeavor. I've worked on several related projects, aiming to increase awareness and education on the subject. While traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has supported prescribed burns for centuries, Western scientific thought is still catching up. The 20th century was characterized by a strict fire-suppression policy, in blatant opposition to-- and intentional weaponzation against-- local ecological and cultural practices. I coauthored a report on the history, ecology, and future policy implications of this conflict in the Boundary Waters, which you can read here.

If you're interested in learning more, check out the Cloquet Forestry Center. I participated in a site visit to the CFC while I was an undergrad at UMN, to view some of their research initiatives and the teaching forest which was under their management at the time. That land is currently (as of June 2026) in the process of being returned by the University of Minnesota to the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Chippewa, updates here.