About this Program

Wildland fire management is among the most pressing contemporary socioecological problems in North America. Recent record-breaking wildland fire seasons in British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and western United States have resulted in millions of hectares burned annually with significant human and environmental costs.

Presented from both Indigenous and western perspectives, the Fundamentals of Wildland Fire Ecology and Management program provides a unique learning opportunity that combines knowledge of western fire science and Indigenous ways of knowing with landscape and fire ecology and social sciences to address a vital need for professional training in the increasingly complex area of wildfire management.

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Designed for

• Professionals with a university degree or college diploma in a related discipline
• Practicing environmental and resource professionals: agrologists, biologists, fire ecologists, firefighters, fire and forest technicians, foresters, landscape and forest managers, and urban or landscape planners
• Land managers employed in forestry, agriculture, land development, and wildfire resiliency
• Different levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal, and Indigenous)
• Conservation organizations and agencies
• Individuals seeking employment in an environmental field
• Post-secondary students seeking to gain practical experience

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Program Structure and Delivery

The Fundamentals of Wildland Fire Ecology and Management micro-credential program consists of three online courses. Each course includes 15 hours of instruction and 5-hours of learning activities.

Course 1: Introduction to Wildland Fire Ecology

Participants are first introduced to the basics of wildland fire ecology, the interaction of vegetation, topography, and climate that results in wildfire occurrence and behaviour in British Columbia. The course builds on these basic concepts to provide learners with the tools to identify differences and drivers of change in fire regimes throughout British Columbia.

Course 2: Wildland Fire and Landscapes

Wildland fire has a profound impact on landscapes and resources (e.g., timber, water, habitat), which in turn influence potential future fires. This course introduces applied concepts in landscape ecology, including the diverse ways that wildfires influence ecosystem processes and landscape heterogeneity. Participants will apply concepts of spatial and temporal scale to understand historical landscape reference conditions, the influence of Indigenous land management and cultural fire, and changing contemporary fire regimes.

Course 3: Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Ecology and Management

Using case studies, this course explores the historic, social and legislative context for wildland fire management in British Columbia, and examines how policy and laws influence wildland fire management and Indigenous cultural burning practices today. It provides participants with tools and strategies for public education and outreach related to wildfire management and prescribed burning.

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Course Schedule

DATES	TOPIC
December 4, 2023 – January 12, 2024	Orientation
January 15, 2024 – February 16, 2024	Course 1: Introduction to Wildland Fire Ecology
February 19, 2024 – April 5, 2024	Course 2: Wildland Fire and Landscapes
April 8, 2024 – May 10, 2024	Course 3: Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Ecology and Management

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Credential Awarded

Learners who successfully complete all courses from within the Fundamentals of Wildland Fire Ecology and Management micro-credential will receive:

• a UBC Okanagan Non-credit Letter of Proficiency

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Requirements

ADMISSION

• This non-credit learning opportunity has no prerequisites
• This learning opportunity is designed for adult learners; participants must be 18 years or older
• Topics will be presented with no expectation of prior knowledge
• The language of instruction is English

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Access to a computer with a recent operating system, web browser and updated version of Zoom
• High-speed internet connection
• Microphone, webcam, and headphones or speaker

Course Materials

All learning materials and resources are provided within the learning management system (Canvas Catalog).

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Fees

Course Fee

Standard Fee | $3000

All instructional content required to complete the course is available through the course website. There are no additional fees for textbooks.

Refunds and Cancellations

Learners who wish to initiate a refund or cancellation must do so by November 6, 2023.

StrongerBC future skills note: Any cancellation after November 6, 2023 will result in the full tuition amount being charged to your StrongerBC future skills grant.

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Additional Info

CONTACT

This credential is offered by the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at UBC Okanagan. Questions about department courses and programs should be submitted to eegs.cpd@ubc.ca.

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Last updated: 2023-11-30 02:10