With new digital tools, researchers are helping Joshua trees survive wildfires
When UC Berkeley postdoctoral researchers Maya Zomer and Lucia Layritz first drove through burned portions of Mojave National Preserve in Southern California, the sight stunned them. "It looks like a pretty dystopian landscape," Layritz said.
UC Berkeley researchers Maya Zomer and Lucia Layritz witnessed the devastating impact of the 2020 Dome Fire on Joshua trees during a drive through Mojave National Preserve. The sight of scorched Joshua trees, resembling skeletons, and the discovery of green resprouts among the dead plants highlighted the urgent need to protect and restore these iconic desert plants.
With increasing and more severe wildfires driven by climate change and nonnative grasses, the Mojave Desert's Joshua trees face existential threats. Parks have limited resources to respond to natural disasters like fires, making digital tools essential for park managers to act quickly and effectively. Researchers at UC Berkeley's Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment are collaborating with the National Park Service to develop digital fire recovery tools.
These tools would provide park managers with crucial information on post-fire scenarios, enabling them to prioritize recovery efforts in the most effective locations. The researchers are creating a tool that uses current scientific modeling to assist in post-fire scenario planning, addressing the challenges faced by Joshua trees in a rapidly changing climate.
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