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This document synthesizes evidence-based strategies for adapting western North American forests to the dual threats of climate change and uncharacteristic wildfires. The authors argue that over a century of fire exclusion has replaced historical, fire-resilient mosaics with dense, fuel-heavy landscapes that are increasingly vulnerable to high-severity, stand-replacing fires. To address this crisis, the authors advocate for a shift from aggressive suppression toward proactive management, including the strategic use of mechanical thinning and prescribed burning. This resource evaluates ten common questions that often cause public or scientific disagreement, such as the efficacy of treatments under extreme fire weather and the necessity of managing forests beyond the wildland urban interface.

This document provides a comprehensive guide for managing logging slash produced by thinning operations in ponderosa pine forests, with the critical goal of minimizing colonization and subsequent infestation of residual trees by bark beetles. Thinning creates substantial amounts of woody debris which serves as an ideal habitat for beetles, and as such, managers must employ various techniques to mitigate risk. The document explores factors influencing beetle attacks, such as timing of slash creation, stand density, and log size, while detailing practical management strategies including direct removal, solarization, and the complicated trade-offs of using techniques like chipping and green chaining. The purpose of this document is to equip land managers with diverse, site-specific treatment options to balance forest health objectives with the urgent need to reduce bark beetle risks.