Jonny Hyman L&S Math & Physical Sciences
From Fire Risk to Food Sovereignty: Stewardship in East Bay Wildlands
For the millions inhabiting the East Bay’s wildland-urban interface, the adjacent Regional Parks, while cherished for recreation, pose a significant and escalating wildfire threat. This danger is amplified by the historical and ongoing suppression of Indigenous fire stewardship practices and traditional ecological knowledge, a mechanism of colonization which has allowed highly flammable, non-native vegetation like Eucalyptus and non-native invasive grasses and shrubs to dominate and intensify fire risk in previously adapted landscapes. How can the reintroduction of Indigenous-led fire and ecological stewardship, specifically in Wildcat Canyon, mitigate this acute wildfire risk, enhance the ecological resilience of these vital lands, and concurrently bolster the region’s local food and clean water security in the face of growing Anthropocene instability? By collaborating closely with Indigenous knowledge holders, weaving traditional ecological knowledge and stewardship with Western fire ecology and computational fire modeling, this project aims to contribute actionable knowledge towards ecological repair, decolonization, and a just, sustainable, and resilient future in the East Bay.
Message To Sponsor
I'm deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to undertake this summer research! As a long time Bay area resident and lover of Tilden and the Wildcat Canyon, I'm extremely excited to be able to put my research energy into something close to home, in my community, and in a place that matters so much to me. Thank you for your donation and I'm excited to share what comes through by the end of Summer!