#109: Cultural Fire with Margo Robbins

Today’s episode is very timely. Our guest is Margo Robbins, cofounder and Executive Director of the Cultural Fire Management Council. Margo advocates for the return of cultural burning practices as a way to strengthen community, support biodiversity, and mitigate out of control fires that plague so many areas.

But before I get further into the details of today's episode, I want to note that it was recorded just a few days prior to the tragic and devastating wildfires that affected the Los Angeles area in January. 

We’ve had numerous interviews on Nature’s Archive with wildfire and prescribed burning experts, so if you’ve heard any of those, you know that fire frequency, intensity, and management practices vary dramatically depending on what habitats and climates we’re talking about. Los Angeles is predominantly shrubland and chaparral, which has been invaded by numerous invasive grass species, further enhancing fire risk.

Today’s episode focuses largely on the forested lands of Northern California, specifically, Yurok tribal lands. So while the topics discussed here may apply to other habitats, the specifics will vary.

Despite all of the past episodes relating to wildfire, we’ve had a notable gap - that is, no one has been able to speak to traditional indigenous use of fire. That is, until today.

So today you’ll hear why cultural fire is so important across so many dimensions of life. You’ll hear how cultural fire can be safely practiced, and how it has strengthened the Yurok community. 

If the idea of purposeful fire being beneficial to the land is new to you, I invite you to check out episode #89 with Lenya Quinn-Davidson - it’s one of our most popular and provides good baseline information for today’s episode. In fact, we have several other episodes that discuss wildfire, prescribed burning, and more - all are listed below.

I was incredibly grateful for Margo spending the time with us today. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Links
Cultural Fire Management Council

Indigenous Peoples Burning Network (IPBN)

Tending the Wild by M. Kat Anderson

Related Nature's Archive Episodes

#89: Burning Questions: Understanding Fire Management with Lenya Quinn-Davidson

#82: Amanda Monthei – Life with Fire

#24: Justin Angle – On The Fireline -Wildfires in the Western USA

ENCORE: Rick Halsey – Wildfire Ecology in the Chaparral and the American West

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Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music
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