The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) is a scientific and educational 501(c) non-profit organization. Its mission statement declares that is dedicated to improving the knowledge and use of fire in land management through science and education.. Its headquarters are located in Eugene, Oregon.
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History
The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) began with a small group of researchers and fire managers calling themselves the California Association for Fire Ecology (CAFE). CAFE focused specifically on questions of interest to California land managers, and hosted annual fire ecology conferences from 1997 to 1999. Each of these conference exceeded the prior event in the numbers of participants, demonstrating a rapidly growing interest in fire ecology in the western region.
In recognition of the need for an organization to promote fire ecology and create a network of fire ecologists at a national and international scale, several members of CAFE founded the Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) in July 2000. CAFE continued as one of the regional sections within AFE, while AFE expanded its membership and scope of activities across North America.
AFE has expanded its programs and projects beyond organizing annual conferences. In 2005 it began publication of an on-line journal, Fire Ecology, that features original peer-reviewed articles on fire ecology. AFE’s journal has published over 70 articles by more than 300 different authors, making it the leading international fire ecology journal.
Accreditation
AFE offers two Initial Certifications for those starting out in their wildland fire careers, and two Certification Pathways, for Fire Managers and Fire Ecologists & Scientists. It also certifies wildland fire science undergraduate degree programs.
Publications
Fire Ecology is the international scientific journal supported by the Association for Fire Ecology. The journal publishes peer reviewed articles, opinion pieces, responses, and book reviews, as well as occasional reprints of “classic” fire ecology articles. The journal has over 30 associate editors representing scientists on five continents.