CONTACT: CAL FIRE Duty PIO, (916) 651-3473, Calfire.dutypio@fire.ca.gov

RELEASE DATE: November 5, 2026

CAL FIRE Releases the New Edition of the Forest and Rangeland Assessment Highlighting Threats—and Solutions—for California's Landscapes

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) today announced the release of the latest edition of the California Forest and Rangeland Assessment, a comprehensive, science-based report that examines the health, trends, and resilience of the state’s forests and rangelands amid growing pressures from climate change, wildfire, and land-use change.

The new California Forest and Rangeland Assessment is available on the FRAP webpage. To ensure timely access to high-quality data while ongoing review and analysis continue, the Assessment will be released in batches. The final compiled report is expected to be released in Q2, 2027. 

The Assessment brings together data for more than 50 indicators to show trends in wildfire severity, tree mortality, water resources, wildlife habitat, and climate parameters, as well as several other wildland related topics. Together, these data provide a comprehensive statewide snapshot of California’s natural landscapes and the challenges they face. The report is designed to help policymakers, land managers, and communities make informed decisions about protecting and restoring forests and rangelands now and into the future. Additionally, it illustrates where further research is needed.

“California’s forests and rangelands are essential to our way of life,” said CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. “They provide clean air and water, support wildlife, store carbon, and help protect our communities from wildfire. This Assessment shows where conditions are changing—and where strategic action can make a real difference.”

The report shows that many of California’s forests are overcrowded and stressed due to decades of fire suppression combined with a warming and drying climate. These conditions have contributed to larger, more severe wildfires, widespread tree mortality, and increasing risks to communities, watersheds, wildlife habitat, and air quality. Rangelands—covering nearly half of the state—also face mounting pressure from climate change, invasive species, wildfire, and development, even as they continue to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water filtration, and support for rural economies. However, there is cause to be hopeful, as broad awareness, support, and efforts are being put towards improving forest and rangeland resilience.

The Forest and Rangeland Assessment is built on long-term research and monitoring conducted by state, federal, tribal, academic, and local partners. It draws from on-the-ground measurements—such as forest inventories, wildfire records, water quality monitoring, and wildlife habitat monitoring—as well as satellite data, climate modeling, and peer-reviewed science. Using consistent methods over time allows scientists to track trends, measure progress, and identify emerging risks with confidence.

“Doing nothing is often the riskiest option,” said CAL FIRE’s Deputy Director for Resource Management Eric Huff. “With science-based management and continued collaboration, California’s forests and rangelands are not beyond help. Together, we can protect our communities and ensure these landscapes continue to benefit Californians for generations to come.”

CAL FIRE is actively working to address the issues identified in the Assessment through a wide range of programs and partnerships. These efforts include increasing the pace and scale of forest health and fuels reduction projects through thinning overly dense forests and using prescribed fire and Indigenous cultural burning.

Additional efforts include expanded reforestation work in areas where severe wildfire has prevented natural regrowth, and support for working forests and rangelands to help keep lands productive and resilient. CAL FIRE also works closely with communities across the state to reduce wildfire risk through wildfire prevention projects as well as public education on the importance of defensible space and home hardening.

See the new edition of the Forest and Rangeland Assessment as well as previous versions on the FRAP Program webpage.

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