Chad Hanson – författare

The Ecological Importance of High-Severity Fires, presents information on the current paradigm shift in the way people think about wildfire and ecosystems.

While much of the current forest management in fire-adapted ecosystems, especially forests, is focused on fire prevention and suppression, little has been reported on the ecological role of fire, and nothing has been presented on the importance of high-severity fire with regards to the maintenance of native biodiversity and fire-dependent ecosystems and species.

This text fills that void, providing a comprehensive reference for documenting and synthesizing fire's ecological role.

Offers the first reference written on mixed- and high-severity fires and their relevance for biodiversity Contains a broad synthesis of the ecology of mixed- and high-severity fires covering such topics as vegetation, birds, mammals, insects, aquatics, and management actions Explores the conservation vs. public controversy issues around megafires in a rapidly warming world

Mixed Severity Fires: Nature’s Phoenix, Second Edition focuses on wildfire as a keystone ecological process that has shaped plant and animal communities for over 400 million years. The book describes the renewal process that follows wildfires in forests and chaparral ecosystems as nature’s phoenix by drawing from examples of wildfire effects. In addition, the book describes management and policies that have contributed to wildfire problems, including climate change and land-use practices incompatible with nature’s phoenix and what must happen to get to coexistence with wildfires that are not going away no matter how much we try to suppress or alter fire behavior.Comprehensive and complete reference on wildfire ecology that includes the latest science and citationsDebunks debates on wildfire management that can be used by conservation groups and decision-makers to shift egregious wildfire policiesContains a broad synthesis of the ecology of mixed- and high-severity fires, covering such topics as vegetation, birds, mammals, insects, aquatics, and management actions

Wildfires are a naturally occurring phenomenon that create opportunity for rejuvenation of our national forests. Given the number of natural fires that the public is made aware of today, it may be easy to feel disconcerted. However, popular misinformation about wildfires means that much of this anxiety is unnecessary and misdirected. Wildfires offer up a wealth of opportunity for forest and grassland renewal and maintenance, while the negative stigma attached to the occurrence has led to unneeded environmental damage and human endangerment in efforts to prevent them.In Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate, author Chad Hanson aims to bridge the disconnect between widespread common beliefs and current science regarding wildland fire, forest management, and climate change. In stark contrast to the fear-driven catastrophic wildfire narrative, the current and emerging science on fire in forests is positive and hopeful. In truth, contemporary research has demonstrated that forests in the US, North America, and around the world currently have a significant deficit of fire. Meanwhile these forest fires, including the largest ones, are creating extraordinarily important and rich wildlife habitat, if they are not subjected to post-fire logging. In California, for example, the threatened black-back woodpeckers which adapted by millions of years of evolution to live in burned-out forests, have found respite in the forests that were subject to the 2016-17 "Rim Fire." This is especially true in the patches where fire burns most intensely, and kills most or all of the trees, creating "complex early seral forest," less technically known as "snag forest habitat." This unique forest environment is comparable to old-growth forest in terms of native biodiversity and wildlife abundance, and the strong weight of current scientific evidence indicates that forests are naturally regenerating in ecologically beneficial ways after such fire, even in the largest high intensity fire patches.Hanson's proposed book is, ultimately, a hopeful one: fire is not destroying the nation's forests. Rather, it has a central role in revitalizing wildlife habitat, and its impact on humanity's growing footprint is manageable when effective planning is put in place. Hanson, with his knowledge of hands-on research and engaging writing style, is well situated to increase the national dialogue around forest fires at a time when it is desperately needed. Smokescreen will connect strongly with an increasingly environmentally conscientious public, ecologists, and land managers both in the public and private sector.

The community college is the largest single sector of the U.S. higher education network. As of 2005, 40 percent of newly enrolled undergraduate students attended community colleges. The American two-year school is a vast, rapidly changing, and under-studied institution. The aim of The Community College and the Good Society is tocritically analyze the internal changes and external forces that shifted the focus of the two-year college from the liberal arts to job training.Chad Hanson raises a series of questions about what is lost or forsaken when public institutions become preoccupied with economic goals. When educational institutions turn their attention toward training workers to private-sector specifications, Hanson argues, our social and cultural lives suffer. He describes the "the learning college movement," an ideological framework that justifies the current emphasis on vocational training. In addition, he explores the implications of competency-based education, a philosophy and method for creating curriculum with strong support among administrators and boards of trustees.For more than four decades, a steady stream of commentary aimed at understanding the two-year school made its way into the literature on higher education. In this work, Hanson provides an alternative view of the community college. He offers suggestions for new teaching strategies, curriculum, and organizational structure. These changes will encourage the potential for the two-year college to flourish as an institution that provides a permanent place for the arts and sciences.

The community college is the largest single sector of the U.S. higher education network. As of 2005, 40 percent of newly enrolled undergraduate students attended community colleges. The American two-year school is a vast, rapidly changing, and under-studied institution. The aim of The Community College and the Good Society is tocritically analyze the internal changes and external forces that shifted the focus of the two-year college—from the liberal arts to job training.Chad Hanson raises a series of questions about what is lost or forsaken when public institutions become preoccupied with economic goals. When educational institutions turn their attention toward training workers to private-sector specifications, Hanson argues, our social and cultural lives suffer. He describes the "the learning college movement," an ideological framework that justifies the current emphasis on vocational training. In addition, he explores the implications of competency-based education, a philosophy and method for creating curriculum with strong support among administrators and boards of trustees.For more than four decades, a steady stream of commentary aimed at understanding the two-year school made its way into the literature on higher education. In this work, Hanson provides an alternative view of the community college. He offers suggestions for new teaching strategies, curriculum, and organizational structure. These changes will encourage the potential for the two-year college to flourish as an institution that provides a permanent place for the arts and sciences.

Combining stunning imagery with insights from the new science of awe and contemplative practices, The Wild Horse Effect reminds us that stepping away from our modern lives and reconnecting with the natural world is essential to our sense of peace, purpose, and well-being.This unique nature book invites you into a world seldom experienced by humans through breathtaking imagery of wild horses on the open plains. In addition, author Chad Hanson delves into current research and lays out the myriad mind-body benefits of spending time in natural spaces. "Try this" sidebars throughout offer simple ways to get outside, practice mindfulness, and discover more wonder in your every day, no matter where you live.Handsomely designed to evoke the allure of the West and brimming with images that range from austere to heartwarming to jubilant, this transporting book will appeal to animal and nature lovers, photography enthusiasts, and anyone interested in improving their well-being through time spent outdoors.Perfect for: Horse lovers and equestrians Animal lovers and anyone interested in wildlife conservation People who live in or travel to the western United States  Forest bathers, meditators, and mindfulness practitioners Fans of nature photography  People who enjoy Nature Meditations Deck, Forest Bathing, or Chronicle Books’ Pocket Nature series