Science delivery is a two-way street – development of the Consortium Of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists (CAFMS)
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The Appalachian region stretches along the Blue Ridge Mountains from Pennsylvania south into Georgia and Alabama. The region’s lands shelter some of the greatest biological diversity in the United States. The heavily forested public lands are in great need of science-based fire management after decades of fire suppression. Fire-related research is relatively new to the region; fire managers often have to rely on knowledge and techniques developed for other, less biologically diverse regions. Though two fire learning networks (FLNs) have developed in the region over the last few years and fire research has been established, a disconnect remains between managers and scientists. Outside of the FLNs, there are few if any ways for managers to convey to researchers the questions they have about the conditions they encounter on the ground.