2023

Rachel's work examines the short- and long-term carbon impacts of mechanical fuel reduction treatments in the seasonally dry, fire-prone forests of southeastern British Columbia (BC). Her objective is to better understand the role of carbon in wildfire mitigation efforts. Combining field data and fire effects modelling, she will quantify potential carbon emissions from forest stands with and without fuel reduction treatments. The findings from this work will build ecosystem-specific knowledge at a management relevant scale to help inform forest managers of what intensities and types of fuel treatments are effective at increasing short-term carbon storage and long-term carbon stability. Rachel collaborates with the BC Community Forest Association and BC Wildfire Service. This research is co-supervised by Dr. Lori Daniels and Dr. Bianca Eskelson.

Prior to beginning her MSc, Rachel worked with Dr. John Battles at the University of California (UC), Berkeley on dendrochronology for the US Fire & Fire Surrogates study. She also worked with the Stephens Lab at UC Berkeley studying the impacts of high-severity wildfires on giant sequoias in the southern Sierra Nevada. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Conservation & Resource Studies (2022) from UC Berkeley.