“The Earth Ablaze” is the title of an opinion piece co-authored by Don Melnick, professor of Conservation Biology and Director of Columbia University’s Center for Environment, Economy, and Society (CEES), on the causes and consequences of the pervasive wildfires that have affected Europe and savaged California in 2018. With the support of the Presidents global innovation Fund (PGIF), Melnick is currently conducting research in in Chile, in association with scientists at Universidad Católica to examine (a) climatic and anthropogenic causes of wildfires, (b) ecological and socioeconomic consequences once they occur, and (c) how to apply The Rainforest Standard Protected Area Credits™ (RFS|PAC) system, a science-based financial mechanism, to incentivize their prevention.
