Trails as Firetools: Wildfire Forestry Field Tour by Bike in the WUI
Exploring the Intersection of Recreation, Forestry, and Wildfire Mitigation by Bike in the Arcata Community Forest
At the October Wildfire Task Force North Coast Regional Gathering, CAMTB partnered with CAL FIRE, the City of Arcata, and CAMTB member organization, Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association (RCMBA) to co-host a Wildfire Forestry Field Tour by Bike through the Arcata Community Forest.
The ride highlighted a living, working model of how sustainable recreation, active timber management, and hazardous fuels reduction can and should integrate within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).
What is the WUI?
The Wildland-Urban Interface (pronounced “woo-EE”) refers to the transition zone where homes and community infrastructure meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. Because fire risk is highest along these boundaries, the Wildfire Forestry Field Tour gave foresters, fire managers, conservation leaders, and trail advocates a firsthand look at innovative, ground-level land stewardship techniques in Arcata.
Bridging the Gap: Outdoor Recreation and Forest Resilience
CAMTB has actively brought the voice of the mountain biking and trails community to California’s Wildfire Task Force for the past three years. As outlined in the state’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Recreation and Forest Resilience, trail networks can play an essential role in safeguarding our wild spaces and our communities.
For the outdoor recreation community to be an effective partner, riders and trail stewards must build literacy around forestry systems and wildfire dynamics:
- Adopting the Lexicon: Understanding the vocabulary and management targets used by land agencies and fire professionals.
- Mastering Methodologies: Learning which forestry prescriptions best mitigate fire severity across diverse habitats.
- Adapting Trail Design: Implementing simple, proactive adjustments—such as brushing wider corridor clearances during trail maintenance—to slow fire movement and provide defensible access for wildland firefighters.
The Road Ahead: Advocating for California’s Wildfire Action Plan
With an upcoming gubernatorial transition, the future of the Wildfire Task Force and the ongoing implementation of the state’s Wildfire and Landscape ResilienceAction Plan will depend in part on our elected leaders.
Regardless of your party or political leanings, reach out to your district representatives and state officials. Remind them that collaborative initiatives between trail users, land managers, and wildland firefighters are vital to defending our communities and ecosystems against catastrophic wildfire.
Join the Next Wildfire Forestry Field Tour and Wildfire Task Force Meeting in Santa Barbara
Mark your calendar for the next regional gathering and field session:
- Regional Meeting: Thursday, March 25
- Forestry Field Tour by Bike: Friday, March 26
- Location: Santa Barbara, CA
To register and learn more, visit the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force
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