Brian Peterson, Fire Ecologist and Interim Director of the Fire Forward program, received a master’s degree from San Francisco State University in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology in 2015. His graduate research investigated the relationship between seed caching rodents and manzanita recruitment after fire. Getting his start in 1997 doing oak woodland restoration and fuels reduction work in Southern Oregon, Brian has gone on to work as a botanist and vegetation ecologist all across the California floristic providence, including on research projects at the Farallon Islands, Yosemite’s Illoette Valley, Sierra Foothills, Mount Diablo State Park, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, Sugarloaf State Parks and Pepperwood Preserve. Most recently, he worked with Nomad Ecology where he focused on botanical studies in post-fire chaparral. Brian has completed two Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX) and is trained as a wilderness first responder. Brian serves as a board director of the California Native Grassland Association.