The mission of the Center is to generate and integrate knowledge and information to provide credible prediction, early detection, and quantitative assessment of environmental threats in the western United States. The goal of WWETAC is to inform policy and support the management of environmental threats to western wildlands. The objectives of WWETAC are to:
- Evaluate the effects and consequences of multiple, interacting stresses on western wildland health.
- Increase knowledge of the risks, uncertainties, and benefits of multiple environmental stresses on western ecological conditions and socioeconomic values.
- Provide science-based decision-support tools for policy formulation and land management in the western United States.
- Provide land managers with credible predictions of potential severe disturbances in the West with sufficient warning for managers to take preventive actions.
Inputs
Potential for collaboration: WWETAC collaborates with federal, state, university, and non-profit researchers, practitioners, and managers. Potential interactions range from maintaining ongoing discussions, seeking advice on possible research projects, as well as and joint activities. There are many ways for the center to interact directly with partners, the most obvious being to undertake joint projects through interagency agreements, research joint ventures, cooperative agreements, and grants. In addition, possibilities such as fellowship programs, post-doctoral appointments, and sabbatical opportunities could leverage the center’s funding, provide unique experiences for scientists and managers (regardless of employer) and assure a continual flow of fresh ideas through the organization.