New preprint out!
Using combined paleo-ecological and modeling methods, we uncover regional Holocene #wildfire dynamics in eastern #Siberia. Notably, our findings suggest potential human impacts as early as 5000 years ago - contrasting a common view of historically unmanaged forests 
So far, any historical human impacts on fire regimes or traditional land use practices with relevance for wildfire were poorly acknowledged in international literature for eastern Siberia - despite clear indications from Indigenous communities, and former visitors leaving us with clear hints: For example, Georg W. Steller describes in the early 1700s his observation of common burning in forests near the Lena River. And in 1913, Fridtjof Nansen writes in his expedition notes about a long-standing habit of the Natives to burn old grasses near the Amur River. There is more to this 
According to our study, fuel availability seems to be a key factor here. We discuss by example of the #Sakha how people may have reduced wildfire severity around their settlements since c. 800 years ago.
Find the preprint here:
https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.14.643308
Photo taken in #Yakutia, August 2021.
@wildfirescience @paleofire @ecology #paleofire