From Wildfire Risk to Resilience The Investment Case for Action 2026

Design principles for scalable nature-based wildfire resilience programmes These principles describe what empirical evidence suggests is likely needed to translate ecosystem stewardship into measurable risk reduction, durable co-benefits and fundable, repeatable programmes. Not every principle applies to every case. –Co-producing knowledge: Combine Indigenous knowledge with scientific methods for fit-for-place prescriptions. –Programmatic maintenance: Multi-year contracts prevent risk rebound. –Co-benefit valuation: Track water quality, biodiversity and avoided emissions recognized (not just carbon) to reflect the full value of ecosystem restoration. –Stewardship incentives: Establish pay-for- performance mechanisms and sovereignty- respecting data practices – e.g. CARE (collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility, ethics) Principles for Indigenous Data Governance – to align incentives with long- term community stewardship. –Pricing link: When verified NbS data flows to insurance underwriting (via data commons), resilience-linked discounts and coverage can improve, accelerating investment and lowering long-term suppression costs. –Market integration: Monetize byproducts (biomass pellets, biochar, etc.) to make restoration into a profit-generating entity. The Cheslatta Carrier Nation in British Columbia has expanded its stewardship over approximately 300,000 hectares of traditional lands through strategic partnerships with the provincial government and forestry industry leaders. Traditionally managing fuels through cultural fire practices, Cheslatta now implements mechanized fuel removal methods under commercial agreements that generate community benefits and support sustainable forest management. Blue Forest and the California Council on Science and Technology’s research shows that proactive forest management significantly cuts wildfire smoke emissions and related health costs. Treatments combining prescribed burns and thinning reduced smoke by 14% in Washington and lowered fine PM2.5 emissions by up to 48% in California’s Rim Fire area. Long-term projections estimate this could save $7 billion in annual health costs over 25 years.85 Planscape, developed by the Spatial Informatics Group (SIG) in partnership with CAL FIRE and the US Forest Service, supported El Dorado County partners in identifying 60,000 acres of priority treatments in the Placerville region, securing $10 million in funding to accelerate implementation. Drone-based reforestation company Flash Forest is challenging monoculture replanting practices. The company’s drones plant at 20 times the speed of human planters while ensuring species diversity.86 CASE STUDY 2 Ecological interventions for wildfire management4.2 Nature-based solutions Nature-based solutions (NbS) have long been integral to wildfire and land management. Practices such as forest thinning, cultural and prescribed burning, green buffers and improved water distribution reduce ignition and fire spread while delivering water, biodiversity and climate co-benefits. In certain contexts, green firebreak plantings (using less-flammable species) and targeted grazing (e.g. using goats) can help maintain low-fuel corridors near homes, roads and critical infrastructure.Still, decades of suppression-driven policy and short-term budgeting have degraded these natural defences. Restoring balance requires treating ecosystem stewardship as infrastructure that can be financed and maintained over time. NbS transforms restoration and maintenance into measurable avoided losses and biodiversity value, generating environmental and financial returns. Indigenous communities have long used NbS to protect and regenerate landscapes, and financing their stewardship builds durable, locally led resilience. From Wildfire Risk to Resilience: The Investment Case for Action 20