| Project Leader: |
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Institute of the Environment - University of Balamand |
Project Partners: |
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National Science Foundation (NSF) |
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Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) |
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Montana State University - Department of Earth Sciences |
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WildFire PIRE - NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education |
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| Project Description: |
Interactions between changing land-use, fuel conditions and a warming climate are increasing the risk and hazard of wildfire in many parts of the world, especially where residential development expands into wildland areas. In Lebanon, land-use and forest management are leading to increased fuel accumulation in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) where populations continue to grow. This situation poses great challenges for urban planners, forest and fire managers tasked with managing forests and protecting populations from wildfire. Our project*: "Towards a better assessment and management of wildfire risk in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) in Lebanon: gaining from the US experience" aims to provide information for municipalities and land managers to better anticipate and mitigate wildfire risk and hazard in the WUI of Lebanon. The primary objective of the project is to use models to identify areas most vulnerable to wildfire risk due to changing fuel conditions, land-use and climate warming.
*This project is managed by the Biodiversity Program (BP) at the Institute of the Environment (IOE), the University of Balamand (UOB) and funded by the Agency for International development (USAID) in agreement with the US National Academies of Science (NAS) |
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