A LEARNING NETWORK FOR GROWING FIRE-ADAPTED COMMUNITIES: PILOT PROJECT KICK-OFF FAC Net kick-off - Boise, ID - April th, 2013

Outline  The big questions  Review agenda  Intro to Fire Adapted Communities  The thinking behind a FAC “Learning Network” approach  FAC Network pilot - structure and function  Criteria for hubs  Leadership and partnerships  Proof of concept and proceeding

 What am I doing here?  What is the Fire Adapted Communities Network?  What am I/we going to be expected to do?

Intro to Fire Adapted Communities  A Fire Adapted Community takes responsibility for its wildfire risk. Actions address resident safety, homes, neighborhoods, businesses and infrastructure, forests, parks, open spaces, and other community assets. The more actions a community takes, the more fire adapted it becomes  Being a Fire Adapted Community is not an end-point, but rather a continuous process

Intro to FAC - continued  Many communities at-risk from wildfire have been taking steps to become fire adapted for years or even decades.  After years of disparate and varyingly successful local, state, federal and institutional efforts, more coordinated national focus and strategies are emerging  FAC programs  The FAC Coalition  FAC in the Cohesive Strategy  An emerging language, toolkit and community of practice

Multiple elements and roles, coordinated Fire Adapted Communities Firewise Communities fuel reduction forest management internal safety zones Ready Set Go! codes & ordinances fuel buffers prevention education local capacity Community Wildfire Protection Plan cooperative fire agreements

The FAC “Learning Network” approach  In-person and interactive communications are the preferred and most effective way to make and move knowledge, best practices and innovations among individuals, institutions, communities and geographies  The FAC Net will leverage, integrate and build upon existing FAC strategies, tools and programs  The “learning network” approach will provide multiple levels of learning and feedback on practice, programs and policy in support of fire adapted communities

Multiple levels of learning and feedback  Within communities  Among communities at the sub-regional level  Among communities nationally  Feeding back into national strategies, programs and policies

FAC Network pilot - structure and function  The Watershed Center and FLN will;  serve as “network maintenance organizations”  coordinate with FAC Coalition and individual members for steering, guidance and integration  engage and work with diverse organizations serving as sub-regional “hubs”  provide cost-share funding, process guidance, and technical assistance; empowering “hubs”, to serve as regional conveners and leaders empowering FAC communities and organizations to adopt and innovate FAC strategies and engage in the process of FAC  aggregate high-level learning – feeding back into strategies, tools, programs and policies

Structure and function - continued  Regional “hubs” and local partners work in year 1 to;  strengthen and exemplify FAC strategies and coordination at local level,  share learning across national FAC Net communities, and  share lessons learned about strategies, programs and policy  Beginning in year 2, “hubs” will;  convene sub-regional FAC practitioners and local FAC groups/communities in peer-to- peer learning exchanges (1-2 per year) accelerating FAC adoption, learning and adaptation across communities  Participating local FAC groups/communities and regional partnerships will access, implement and innovate around FAC strategies, tools, programs and policies  FAC network leads will meet annually to share learning across sub-regional Nets and to aggregate high-level learning  feeding back into strategies, tools, programs and policies

Criteria considered in recruiting pilot “hubs”  Overall  Geographic diversity,  organizational diversity  and a diversity of partnerships, focus and strategic approaches  Hubs  existing organizational capacity,  a strong fit with existing organizational portfolio and mission,  existing staff capacity,  proven experience convening outcome and product oriented workshops,  pay-it-forward culture,  technical assistance capacity,  a culture of innovation,  an existing sub-regional peer network, and  a culture of learning

The first eight pilot “hubs”

Leadership and partnerships  FAC Network steering will come from The Watershed Center, FLN, FS FAC program leads and NFPA  Strive for diverse leadership and participation in the network at all levels  Integrate the work of other partners in the FAC Coalition and in states and regions where the FAC Net is operating  Look at broadening partnerships for funding support

Proof of concept and proceeding  2013 will serve as a “pilot” year  Establish structure, support work of initial hubs and participating communities, develop metrics for evaluation, develop a communications plan and materials and communicate with partners and interested stakeholders, conduct shared-evaluation, adapt  Growing and proceeding beyond 2013 will be contingent upon efficacy and funding

Questions or discussion