CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Professor and Chair of the Environmental Science & Resource Management Program Sean Anderson, Ph.D., will speak about the short- and long-term effects of the Thomas Fire as part of the Ventura Land Trust’s (VLT) 2018 Environmental Speaker Series.

The community lecture begins at 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. in Ventura.

The lecture is entitled “No Doubting Thomas: The Impacts, Management and World after 2017’s Ventura County Fires.”

“I’ll be talking about the ecological impacts of the Thomas Fire we have seen to date and what we are likely to see in the coming months,” Anderson said. “In particular I’ll discuss the fire’s impact to our local wildlife: which animals perished, which animals survived, and how our ecosystem will be changed for the foreseeable future.”

Anderson will discuss how wilderness areas react to wildfires, especially during this unprecedented climate change, as well as how the fire affected local ecosystems and wildlife. He will also talk about measures we can take to prevent erosion and flood damage in the future as well as encourage the return of native plants and animals.
Anderson and his team of graduate and undergraduate researchers have been measuring the effect of the Thomas Fire on wildlife and the wilderness using methods such as drone-mapping and an ongoing public survey asking residents to report any dead wild animals along the road or in the aftermath of the fire. (The survey is at: http://bit.ly/firekill)

Anderson hopes the survey will help determine where to set up habitats to encourage the return of some species of plant or animal all but wiped out by the fire.

Now in its third year, this is the first in this year’s environmental series, which the VLT hosts annually in order to educate the public about important environmental topics.

A suggested donation of $10 per person will be collected at the door and will go toward restoration work at the VLT’s Big Rock Preserve. Space is limited and reservations are highly encouraged. RSVP at: www.venturalandtrust.org/events.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CSUCI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CSUCI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CSUCI’s Social Media.