Moderator: Johan Marius Ly, Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection
Description: Arctic wildland fire mitigation requires a unique approach due to the region's distinct environmental and cultural characteristics. There are key aspects of Arctic wildland fire as well as the differences and importance of mitigation. Mitigation policies will likely need to include Arctic-specific risk assessment tools, Indigenous co-management agreements and AI-driven early warning systems for example, to help address unique Arctic challenges, leverage local knowledge and improve resource allocation. Cost-benefit analysis shows each dollar spent on mitigation saves much more regarding wildland fire losses. By actively addressing challenges and leveraging regional knowledge, we can achieve more effective wildland fire mitigation and a fire-resilient Arctic.
Affiliation: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Bio: Dr. Troy J. Bouffard, U.S. Army (Ret.), has a Ph.D. in Arctic Defense and Security at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is the director of the UAF Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR), a research fellow at West Point – Modern War Institute, and former Arctic Advisor in the U.S. Senate as a congressional fellow.
Affiliation: Co-Chair, Gwich’in Council International
Bio: Edward Alexander represents Gwich’in internationally as the Co-Chair of Gwich’in Council International and has been appointed by the Chiefs of Alaska for multiple terms in this role. He serves as the Head of Delegation to the Senior Arctic Officials, and to the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) and Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (EPPR) Working Groups of the Arctic Council. Additionally, he serves as the Co-Lead of the Arctic Council’s Chairship Initiative on Wildland Fire. He also served as the 2nd Chief of the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in for seven years.
Edward has a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a current Type A Alaska Teaching Certification. He found wildland fire for eight seasons across Alaska and the western United States. He has worked as a secondary teacher, principal, in administration, managing the University of Alaska’s Yukon Flats Campus, and as the Education Director for the thirty seven tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
He founded and operates the consulting firm “The Village Consultants” which is focused on tribal sovereignty, village development, Indigenous education, and climate issues. Additionally, Edward founded and operates a small family farm, “Gwich’in Grown” which is dedicated to organic and regenerative agricultural and land management practices, which produces broiler chickens, eggs, and seasonal vegetables. In 2025, Edward joined the Woodwell Climate Research Center, serving as the Senior Arctic Lead.