Assessment of Arid Land Sustainability Through Drought and Wildfire Management Drought

Assessment of Arid Land Sustainability Through Drought and Wildfire Management Drought and wildfire are major natural hazards that affect New Mexico’s ecosystems sustainability due to climate change. Two NOAA-funded projects aim to identify vulnerable regions and communities across New Mexico, document how affected communities use science-based tools to adapt to these natural hazards, and identify current gaps to enhance their use to support the sustainability of arid land ecosystems. The projects will develop drought impact predictions; collaborate with affected communities; develop remote sensing-based maps that identify rangeland degradation; and document past, current, and expected changes in wildfire dynamics to better manage their impacts. Such tools will allow to development of effective arid land sustainability practices.