Rangeland comprises about half of Idaho and has a legacy of multiple uses affecting where and how people live, work, and recreate. The management of rangelands is one of the most complex challenges in the American West, in part because it can provide so many opportunities to the public.

Rangeland is easily compromised by both natural and human factors, including population growth and fire – an important and natural occurrence. In fact, over the past decade, fires burned more than 1.9 million acres of Idaho rangeland, resulting in high costs in economic, health, and environmental terms.

During this Vandal Voices presentation, Hulet will discuss wildland/urban interfaces, fire ecology and management on Idaho rangeland, and what Idahoans can do to protect their home and be good stewards of the land.

April Hulet is an Assistant Professor of Rangeland Conservation for the College of Natural Resources at University of Idaho Boise and serves as the U of I Extension Rangeland Specialist. Much of the research she conducts is focused on fire ecology and fuels management, restoration ecology, and remote sensing and GIS application on rangeland ecosystems. Hulet collaborates with a variety of researchers, land managers, and public interest groups to help design and promote everything from outreach and education programs to scientific studies.