Partner webinar: Sifting through selective science and misinformation for collaborative forest management
2024-04-24 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online, United States
Sifting through selective science and misinformation for collaborative forest management
Apr 24, 2024, 03:00 PM
Hosted by: Rocky Mountain Research Station and Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes
Description: Join us for an upcoming land manager and public land partner-focused panel webinar dedicated to examining selective science use, some of the impacts to land management, and methods for reducing misinformation in collaborative forest management. Our panel will provide short talks on their perspectives, and address questions and issues provided by attendees. Discussion and Q&A during this session will facilitate information exchange between all attendees.
Registration and more information.

Partner Webinar: Towards Advancing the Prediction of Wildland Fuels Combustion through Detailed Kinetics
2024-04-30 17:00 - 18:00
5:00 PM ET April 30, 2024
Hosted by the California Fire Science Exchange
Abstract: Wildfires are becoming an increasing issue, raising concern about direct infrastructure and property damage as well as indirect effects related to their emissions. In this context, a fundamental understanding of the burning processes of wildland fuels is crucial for the modeling and prediction of both fire behavior as well as related emissions. Current fuel consumption parameterizations used in wildfire models usually oversimplify fuel consumption processes, such as flaming and smoldering combustion regimes, and fuel properties, like fuel elements’ size and moisture content. In this seminar, a physics-based modeling framework developed to describe biomass combustion and emissions will be presented. Biomass is represented through its fundamental constituents, such as lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, water, and extractives. A detailed reaction kinetic model is coupled with a multi-region single-particle model and is adopted to investigate the process of biomass degradation, including char oxidation. The validation of the modeling framework with experimental data from literature is performed at various scales, including thermogravimetric experiments and particle-scale experiments of pyrolysis and combustion. Additionally, preliminary results of its applicability for the construction of detailed parameterizations for large-scale wildfire applications, such as WRF-SFIRE coupled atmosphere-fire model, will be discussed.
Presenter: Chiara Saggese received her PhD in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Politecnico of Milan in 2015. After working as a postdoctoral fellow on experiments and kinetic modeling of real fuel combustion chemistry and emissions at Stanford University, she joined the Reaction Dynamics Group in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2019. Her research activity spans from the development of kinetic models of conventional and sustainable fuels to the kinetic modeling of pollutants formation in combustion processes. Within the current transition to a decarbonized transportation system, she is focusing on modeling soot formation from sustainable aviation fuels. Lately, her research focus has expanded to the investigation of wildland fuels combustion and emissions to inform sub-models present in large-scale wildfire applications.
Register here.

SFE Webinar: Hot Spots and Hot Moments in Prescribed Fire Across the SE US
2024-05-02 13:00 - 14:00
A free one-hour webinar from Tall Timbers Research Station, the Southern Fire Exchange, and the University of Florida IFAS.
Society of American Foresters CFE Credit Expected.
Presenter: Karen Cummins, Geospatial Database Administrator, Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy
Webinar Description: Prescribed fire is an important land conservation tool to meet ecological, cultural, and public safety objectives across terrestrial ecosystems. While estimates of prescribed burning in the U.S. exceed 11 million acres annually, tracking the extent of prescribed fire is problematic for several reasons and prevents an understanding of spatial and temporal trends in landscape patterns of prescribed fires. The overall purpose of the Southeastern US Prescribed Fire Permit Database is to temporally map and analyze the frequency of prescribed burns throughout the southeast. The database revealed that burning is highly concentrated within the southeast region, presumably reflecting local land ownership categories and associated land management objectives. These analyses provide the first region-wide summary of fine-scale patterns of prescribed fire in the United States. Following the presentation there will be time for audience Q/A with the speaker.
Webinar Recording: If you can’t make the webinar, look for the recording to be posted on the Southern Fire Exchange YouTube Webinar Archive.
Questions? Contactus@southernfireexchange.org

Registration information here.

Partner Webinar: Talking Fire - Working with the Media
2024-05-30 13:00 - 14:30
Working with the Media: How to Know Your Messages and Communicate Them
Thursday, May 30 1-2:30 PM ET
Hosted by The FLN and Fire Networks
Communication professionals and fire practitioners with significant media experience will discuss challenges and success in communicating about fire through media outlets. Panelists will share their experiences and provide suggestions for those looking to begin or improve communication through various forms of media.
Following a moderated panel discussion, there will be time for audience Q/A.
Panelists:

Lorena Williams is a Public Affairs Specialist and Public Information Officer for the San Juan National Forest in Colorado.

Bob Crimian is a program manager for COMPASS, a science communication organization that champions, connects, and supports diverse scientist leaders to improve the well-being of people and nature.

Eytan Krasilovsky is the deputy director for the Forest Stewards Guild based out of the Southwest office

Questions? Laurel.kays@tnc.org
Register here: https://tnc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BVt24vgLTwW3BWL_mV3qIg
Series Description:
The FLN and broader Fire Networks are excited to announce our upcoming Talking Fire Webinar Series. This 3-part series will feature panel discussions with communication experts and fire practitioners addressing various aspects of working with media outlets to communicate about our fire work. You can view information about the full series here: https://firenetworks.org/series/talking-fire-webinar-series/ Registration is required for each webinar.

Partner Webinar: Crisis Communication - What do we say when things go wrong?
2024-06-26 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, United States
Crisis Communication: What Do We Say When Things Go Wrong?
Thursday, June 26 1-2:30 PM ET
Hosted by The FLN and Fire Networks
Communication professionals and fire practitioners with significant media experience will discuss challenges and success in communicating about fire through media outlets. Panelists will share their experiences and provide suggestions for those looking to begin or improve communication through various forms of media.
Following a moderated panel discussion, there will be time for audience Q/A.
Panelists:

Brigette Coleman-Williams, TNC Arkansas Director of Marketing and Communications

Jenifer Bunty, National Forests in North Carolina Public Affairs Specialist

Katie Sauerbrey, The Nature Conservancy in Oregon Fire Program Director

Parker Titus, The Nature Conservancy in Colorado Fire Program Manager

Questions? Laurel.kays@tnc.org
Register here: https://tnc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6kKUNcsOSaSc3YGMKsh6ig#/registration
Series Description:
The FLN and broader Fire Networks are excited to announce our upcoming Talking Fire Webinar Series. This 3-part series will feature panel discussions with communication experts and fire practitioners addressing various aspects of working with media outlets to communicate about our fire work. You can view information about the full series here: https://firenetworks.org/series/talking-fire-webinar-series/ Registration is required for each webinar.

Partner Webinar: Managing Longleaf for our Future - A new Longleaf Pine Climate Smart Guide
2024-09-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Hosted by: The Nature Conservancy, The Longleaf Alliance, and Clemson University
Description: In this webinar for landowners and forestry practitioners, experts from multiple agencies in the southeast will provide context as to why longleaf pine is a climate-smart species, and what management practices make a climate-smart forest. Presenters will provide an overview of the guide and give information on the technical resources and financial assistance available to help any landowners begin or enhance their longleaf pine forest.
Registration Link
Webinar Flier (pdf)

Partner Webinar: Post-Fire Emergency Assessment Processes (Part 1)
2024-09-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Host: Coalitions and Collaboratives Inc., USDA Forest Service and others.
Description: Flooding and debris flows can be one of the most damaging and deadly processes of the post-fire landscape. Burned area emergency rapid assessments determine the level of threat posed by post-fire conditions to critical values within and downstream of the burned area and develop appropriate actions to manage unacceptable risk. The BAER assessment team evaluates the effects of the ﬁre on the landscape and estimates the potential risk to life and safety, as well as risk of damage or loss to critical transportation infrastructure. Satellite-derived data, field observations, and predictive modeling help to inform post-fire hazard-mitigation efforts. Field verification of remotely sensed data and professional evaluation of conditions on the ground are critical for post-fire management. In the first of two webinars, we will discuss the post-fire assessment process used for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program and how it has been adapted to help rapidly determine post-fire emergency situations using case studies from the United States, Greece, Portugal, and Canada. The second webinar is intended to be a more interactive session to discuss ways in which the process can be used or adapted to meet a wide range of needs outside of federal government.
Series Website: https://aftertheflames.com/post-fire-emergency-assessment-processes/
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NphXMFI4T5KKJASUeFe3DA#/registration

Partner Webinar: Post-Fire Emergency Assessment Processes (Part 2)
2024-09-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Host: Coalitions and Collaboratives Inc., USDA Forest Service and others.
Description: Flooding and debris flows can be one of the most damaging and deadly processes of the post-fire landscape. Burned area emergency rapid assessments determine the level of threat posed by post-fire conditions to critical values within and downstream of the burned area and develop appropriate actions to manage unacceptable risk. The BAER assessment team evaluates the effects of the ﬁre on the landscape and estimates the potential risk to life and safety, as well as risk of damage or loss to critical transportation infrastructure. Satellite-derived data, field observations, and predictive modeling help to inform post-fire hazard-mitigation efforts. Field verification of remotely sensed data and professional evaluation of conditions on the ground are critical for post-fire management. The second webinar is intended to be a more interactive session to discuss ways in which the process can be used or adapted to meet a wide range of needs outside of federal government.
Series Website: https://aftertheflames.com/post-fire-emergency-assessment-processes/
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_thwa4DkLR3munrDe_Oe97g#/registration

Partner Webinar: Fire Weather Portal for the Southeast
2024-09-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Online, United States
The Southeast Climate monthly webinar series is held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am ET. This series is hosted by the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC), the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), and the NOAA National Weather Service. These webinars provide the region with timely information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods, and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Niño and La Niña. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as agriculture production, water resources, wildfires and ecosystems.
The September 24th meeting will feature a presentation on the “Fire Weather Portal for the Southeast” by Corey Davis with the North Carolina State Climate Office.
Register for the webinar.

Partner Webinar: Underplanting Longleaf Pine: The ecology behind this regeneration technique & lessons learned from a case study in Georgia
2024-11-14 12:30 - 13:45
Hosted by The Longleaf Alliance
Speakers: Nathan Klaus, Georgia DNR and Dr. Joan Walker, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station (Retired)
Registration Link
Underplanting is the practice of introducing a new generation of trees under an existing overstory. This could be done to convert the stand to a different species, sometimes called “conversion with retention.” It can also be done with seedlings of the same species as the overstory if a multi-aged stand is desired, but natural regeneration is insufficient to achieve this structure. Some questions to be addressed: Why plant longleaf pine seedlings under an existing pine canopy? Is it possible to establish a longleaf pine stand without clearcutting? What preparation is needed for converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf pine dominance? How does one manage an underplanted stand to reduce damage and encourage growth?

This webinar has been postponed from the original date of September 26, 2024 to November 14, 2024.
Many landowners are interested in restoring native longleaf pine forests for the diverse values they provide, for wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, and valuable forest products and services.
When landowners want to establish longleaf pine, traditional approaches would indicate clearcutting followed by planting nursery-grown seedlings. The practice of underplanting would avoid a clearcut-and-replant sequence, and instead favor thinning the overstory to a target basal area, and planting longleaf under that remaining canopy. Similar goals might be met with planting in natural or created openings or gaps.
This approach keeps the look of a forest, rather than the poor aesthetics of a clearcut, an important consideration for some.
Retaining the overstory structure is not just for looks; it provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife that may use every part of the stand from the groundcover layer to the developing sapling class of trees to the upper reaches of the canopy.
Even if conversion to longleaf pine is desired, an existing canopy could be providing current value that the landowner does not want to forfeit. For example, if the loblolly stand is young, premature harvest would reduce the landowner’s return on investment needed to establish it.
Retaining the overstory trees also secures a fuel source in the form of pine needle litter, allowing for prescribed burning to continue. Maintaining fine fuels to carry fire can be difficult in other replanting scenarios if the groundcover is depleted following comprehensive herbicide applications or ground disturbing site preparations.
Part I of the program will introduce the dynamics of various canopy cover scenarios for longleaf pine regeneration, from Joan Walker, US Forest Service Southern Research Station (Retired).
Part II will take viewers through an underplanting project and examine the benefits and possible limitations of this technique, as well as provide real-world guidance for managing stand activities, with Nathan Klaus, Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Questions will be taken by both presenters following the presentation.

Partner Webinar: How will future climate change impact prescribed fire across the contiguous United States?
2024-12-04 13:00 - 14:00
How will future climate change impact prescribed fire across the contiguous United States?
Dr. Alex Jonko, Computation Earth Science, Los Alamos National Laboratory
December 4, 2024, 1 pm (ET)

Hosted by: LANDFIRE and Los Alamos National Laboratory

REGISTER HERE

The use of prescribed fire to manage ecosystems is increasing across the United States, but climate change threatens to impact future opportunities for prescribed fire as a result of changes in meteorological conditions and fuels. I will discuss the results of a recent study which combined prescription information from 80 sites across the US with LANDFIRE fuels data and downscaled future climate projections to evaluate how climate change will impact future availability of burn days. Our results indicate that rising maximum temperatures may lead to decreases in burn days across the eastern US, while rising minimum temperatures and decreasing wind speeds may lead to increased opportunities for prescribed fire in the northern and northwestern US.

Related research publication: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00649-7

Webinar: Prescribed Fire and Wetlands - an Important but Rarely Told Story
2024-12-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Online, United States
Prescribed Fire and Wetlands: an Important but Rarely Told Story

Photo Credit: Jack McGowan-Stinski, Lake States Fire Science Consortium

Hosted by the Fueling Collaboration partners
Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Wetlands are the forgotten sibling of the prescribed fire world. While upland ecosystems across the Eastern U.S. have received significant attention for their fire-dependency, wetlands—characterized by their more episodic encounters with fire—rarely receive equitable fire management investments. Fire managers face unique challenges in these environments, where hydric soils, muck, and dense vegetation can prolong smoke production, encourage smoldering, and hinder vehicle access. As a result, fire-dependent wetlands nationwide have suffered, leading to declines in numerous plant and animal species. In this Fueling Collaboration panel discussion, we will explore the role of fire in various wetland ecosystems and examine the challenges and opportunities associated with its use. Join us as we hear from scientists, land managers, and biologists working in pocosins, marshes, swamps, bogs, and isolated wetlands.
​Registration is required. Register here!
A panel discussion featuring:

Jim Cox – Jim Cox is a Beadel Fellow at Tall Timbers Research Station in north Florida. The early part of his career was spent identifying sites in Florida where habitat conservation efforts were needed to help sustain rare wildlife. The second half of his career has focused on assessing the importance of prescribed fire in maintaining habitat for rare species. Since 2020, Cox has collaborated with biologists across 5 southeastern states in a NOAA-sponsored study investigating the application of prescribed fire in coastal wetlands. Known as the Firebird Project, the work focuses on high marshes and other wetlands important to Mottled Duck, Seaside Sparrow, Yellow Rail, and the imperiled Black Rail.​

Jana Mott – Jana Mott has been working for The Nature Conservancy since 2002 in a variety of roles including fire and restoration technician, burn boss, and wetland restoration specialist. In her role as a wetland restoration specialist from 2011-present, she worked with partners to coordinate isolated ephemeral wetland restoration on the Apalachicola National Forest.

​Ben Walker (Panelist) – Ben Walker is an Inventory and Monitoring Field Biologist at Glacial Ridge and Rydell National Wildlife Refuges in northwestern Minnesota. In this role, Ben manages Refuge lands while collaborating with other stations and partners on biological monitoring, data and GIS analysis, and regional pilot projects. Throughout his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ben has focused on restoring and managing habitats for species of special concern in the Midwest. Recently, he has worked alongside Refuge fire crews to develop large-scale management strategies for prairie-wetland complexes, integrating remote sensors and rapid monitoring techniques to enhance conservation efforts.

Adam Warwick – Adam grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Tennessee and then obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Missouri. He then spent 10 years with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in overseeing wildlife management and supporting burning for Tate’s Hell State Forest. Adam led the agency’s response to regional human-bear conflicts and a highlight of his career was coauthoring FWC’s Black Bear Management Plan. Adam Warwick has been overseeing The Nature Conservancy’s land stewardship in western North Carolina since 2012. The majority of his time and efforts has been devoted to scaling up prescribed burning on public lands to restore open woodlands to the southern Blue Ridge’s pine and oak ecosystems. To that end, he developed TNC burn program; at the core is an innovative 25-person ‘call-when-needed’ crew which has been modeled across the USA. This crew travels over four states to help partners restore fire to thousands of acres of Appalachian forests including five national forests as well state forests, parks, and wildlife management areas and municipal watersheds. Adam is a NWCG Type 2 Burn Boss, and the NC Prescribed Fire Council recognized Adam as the Prescribed Burner of the Year in 2022. Adam dedicates time to helping deliver science to land managers and anyone interested in conservation. He recently wrote the Fire Manager’s Guide to the Southern Blue Ridge Ecozones and Considerations for Fire and Wildlife in the Southern Blue Ridge to further this effort. Adam has led multiple landscape teams on behalf of the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network. He has previously led the Bog Learning Network and now cooperates with agency partners to protect bog turtles on TNC preserves. He lives in Mills River, NC with his wife, Joyce, and 13 year old daughter Cameron; two Australian shepherds and two cats. In his spare time, Adam enjoys fishing, hunting, whitewater kayaking, and mountain biking.

Webinar: Northern Bobwhite and Prescribed Fire: a Review and Synthesis
2025-01-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Online, United States
Presented by: Dr. James Martin, University of Georgia
Hosted by: Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium and Southern Fire Exchange
Date: January 7, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
Register here (required): https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYvfuuurzktE9xjeeuhcP_HHawLEVgxlY6a
This webinar will include research associated with the publication:
Weber, D. A., E. P. Tanner, T. M. Terhune II, J. M. Varner, and J. A. Martin. 2022. Northern bobwhite and prescribed fire: a review and synthesis. National Quail Symposium Proceedings 9:306–319. https://doi.org/10.7290/nqsp09V0ju.

Webinar: Expanding the Fuels Planning Toolkit - Terrestrial Laser Scanning and 3D Fuels Characterization for Improved Wildland Fire Decision Support
2025-01-16 11:00 - 12:30
Photo Credit: MC Murphy, USFS Southern Research Station

PANEL DISCUSSION:
Hosted by: Fueling Collaboration Partners
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Register here: More information and registration
Description: Wildland fire managers require an expanded toolbox for decision support in the context of an increasingly novel fuel and fire environment complicated by a changing climate, invasive species encroachment, and rapid increase in wildland-urban interface in many areas within the U.S. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) offers an efficient, cost-effective, and powerful tool for characterizing high resolution, sub-canopy forest and fuel structural conditions with the simple press of a button. In this panel discussion, TLS subject matter experts from both research and operations will share their efforts and practical applications of TLS and other 3D wildland fuels characterization tools for improved wildland fire planning, fire effects monitoring, and decision support. This panel discussion has been approved for 1.5 Category 1 CFE’s by the Society of American Foresters.

Brett Williams (Moderator)Brett Williams is a Technology Transfer Specialist and Research Liaison for the U.S. Forest Service Southern Region Fire & Aviation Management. He also serves as the Working Group Lead for the Eastern Innovation Landscape Network (EILN), an interagency partnership working in the eastern U.S. to accelerate adoption of wildland fire science innovations through intentional co-production between fire practitioners and fire scientists. Brett has over 20 years of experience in wildland fire management, prescribed fire planning and implementation, and fire effects monitoring, is qualified as a Type 2 Burn Boss (RXB2) and is a Long-term Fire Analyst trainee (LTAN(T)). Brett earned a BS in Environmental Science and a MS in Forest Science from Stephen F. Austin State University in East Texas.

Dr. Michael Gallagher (Panelist)Dr. Michael Gallagher is a Research Ecologist and a Team Leader in the US Forest Service Northern Research Station’s Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Science Research Work Unit and is located in the New Jersey Pine Barrens at the Silas Little Experimental Forest, where he is also Scientist in Charge. Gallagher’s current work focuses on integrating terrestrial lidar approaches into fuels inventorying and ecological monitoring as well as developing better knowledge about fire behavior phenomena like embers and smoke emissions to better inform fire simulation tools. Gallagher is also an active wildland firefighter of 17 years with a red card and single resource qualifications and aspires to one day be able to say he’s done a prescribed burn in every state. In his free time, he loves home improvement projects, helping coach little league baseball, and canoeing.

Emily Link (Panelist)Emily Link is the regional fire ecologist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region. She has worked coordinating the terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) program within USFWS in the Southeast since 2021. Emily is also involved in the development of TLS training, training individuals across the country and within different agencies. Emily is an airborne LiDAR technician, operating the sensor from a fixed-wing plane, collecting data for refuges and national forests in the Southeast.

Dr. Louise Loudermilk (Panelist)Dr. Loudermilk is a Research Ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station and currently serves as the Fire Team Leader of the Athens Prescribed Fire Science Laboratory. Her work focuses on advancing science to support prescribed fire management and fire effects monitoring using advancing technology. She uses terrestrial (TLS) and aerial laser scanning (ALS) to measure fuels and ecosystems in 3D, particularly for supporting monitoring needs. An integral part of her work is building streamlined approaches to incorporating laser scanning and fuels data into ecosystem process models and next-generation 3D fire behavior models. She also uses ecosystem modeling techniques to estimate long-term changes in tree species composition and landscape carbon flux. This is widely used from regional climate vulnerability assessments to local management decision support. She aims to bridge gaps between science, technology, and management through co-production, all to support everyday applications of prescribed fire, ecosystem management, and long-term decision-making. Dr. Loudermilk received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Forestry and Ecology from the University of Florida.

Dr. Russ Parsons (Panelist)Dr. Russ Parsons is a Research Ecologist with the USFS RMRS Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, MT. Russ received his B.S. in Forestry from U.C. Berkeley, in 1992, his M.S. in Forest Resources at the University of Idaho in 1999, and his Ph.D. in Forestry at the University of Montana in 2007. His research work at the Missoula fire lab spans multiple time and space scales, ranging from landscape fire and vegetation simulation modeling to highly detailed 3D fuel and physics-based fire modeling, including 3D fuel models at tree scales (FUEL3D) and stand scales (STANDFIRE). Russ and his partners have developed FastFuels, a prototype 3D fuel modeling system to accelerate access to and use of advanced fire models and to facilitate stronger analysis in fuel management, from local projects to regional scales. Russ is excited to be part of this event and looks forward to discussion and building collaborations with new partners.

Dr. Susan Prichard (Panelist)Dr. Susan Prichard is a fire ecologist and has worked as a research scientist for over 20 years at the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. Her main interests are in the effects of fire and other disturbances on forest dynamics, climate change on forest ecosystems, and fuel treatment options to mitigate fire severity and smoke impacts in fire-prone forests.

Partner Webinar: Prescribed Fire Effects on Southern Pine Tree Growth and Forest Structure
2025-02-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, United States
Prescribed fire, Elizabeth Moss, West Virginia State University, bugwood.org
Presented by: Dr. Doug Aubrey, Associate Professor – University of Georgia
Hosted by: Southern Regional Extension Forestry
In this webinar, Dr. Aubrey will discuss prescribed fire, its benefits, impacts on forest health, and the effects of excluding fire from southeastern forests. Fire is an integral component of southern forests. Especially in some pine systems that have developed adaptations to frequent fires and even depend on it to thrive. Fires can naturally occur but can also be intentionally set as a forest management tool. Prescribed fire is a planned and controlled application of fire to achieve specific goals. But what can prescribed fire be used for and how does it help southern pine systems? In this webinar, Dr. Doug Aubrey will discuss prescribed fire in southern pine forests including its benefits, impacts on forest health, and the effects of excluding fire from an ecosystem.
Registration information

Webinar: Social Acceptance and Communication Strategies for Wildland Fire Management
2025-02-20 11:00 - 12:30
Watching a prescribed fire demonstration in Gainesville, Florida. © Brian Wiebler

PANEL DISCUSSION
Hosted by: Fueling Collaboration Partners
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Register here: https://www.fuelingcollab.com/episode-5-4
Description: Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools for fuels reduction, habitat improvement, and ecological restoration. Yet, there are challenges surrounding social acceptance in implementing prescribed fire programs across the region. This Fueling Collaboration panel discussion will explore the factors that influence public perception and acceptance of prescribed fire in land management. Experts from diverse fields will share insights into effective and culturally appropriate communication strategies that engage communities, address concerns, overcome resistance, and build robust support for ecological restoration practices that include the use of fire. By highlighting successful examples from across the region, this panel aims to equip both fire researchers and fire managers with the tools needed to foster community trust and collaboration in fire-adapted landscapes. This panel discussion has been approved for 1.5 Category 1 CFE’s by the Society of American Foresters.

Dr. Kristin Floress (Moderator)Dr. Kristin Floress is a Research Social Scientist with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Kristin’s research interests and expertise pertain to understanding and modeling the impact of social factors – from the individual to the community level – on natural resources planning, management, conservation, and restoration across public and private lands.​​

Dr. Ludie Bond (Panelist)Dr. Ludie Bond is a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist/Public Information Officer with the Florida Forest Service providing local, state, national and international media with information about wildfire incidents, wildfire causes, wildfire prevention, prescribed burning, and fuel mitigation programs. Dr. Bond recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences in prescribed fire communications. Her dissertation is titled, Evaluating Prescribed Fire Communications in the Southeastern United States.​​​​
Dr. Catrin Edgeley (Panelist)

Dr. Catrin Edgeley is an Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Sociology in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University. She is a wildfire social scientist interested in understanding and supporting community adaptation before, during, and after fire events.

Steve Miller (Panelist)Steve Miller is the Regional Director, Fire and Aviation with the USDA Forest Service, Region 9. Steve has feet firmly planted in both fire camps (suppression and prescribed fire) and is qualified as an ICT2, OSC2, and an RXB1. He is committed to preparing the next generation of land/fire managers and regularly travels to teach NWCG classes and is currently serving as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Florida.​​

Dr. Emily J. Silver (Panelist)Dr. Emily J. Silver (formerly Dr. Emily S. Huff) is an Associate Professor, Associate Chair, Director of Graduate Studies, and Interim Director of the Forest Carbon and Climate Program at Michigan State University in the Department of Forestry. Dr. Silver earned her M.S in Natural Resources Science and Management from the University of Minnesota and her Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Maine. She studies topics like agroforestry, family forest owners, wildfire social acceptability, knowledge co-production, wood-based bioenergy, mass timber, and biochar. Prior to joining the faculty at MSU, Dr. Silver worked for the USDA Forest Service’s Northern Research Station as a Research Forester. Dr. Silver is also serving as the Co Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Society & Natural Resources, as president of the Michigan Forest Association, and serves on the board of the U.S. Biochar Initiative and the Society of American Forester’s Forest Science and Technology committee.​​

SFE Webinar: The Health Parameters of Wildland Firefighting and Cultural Burning
2025-04-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, United States
Host: the Southern Fire Exchange, the University of Florida IFAS, and the Joint Fire Science Program.
Speaker: Dr. Seth Hawkins, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Description:
This webinar shares original ethnographic research done by Dr. Hawkins to earn a master’s degree in applied anthropology and public health at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Beginning with an exploration of the health parameters of wildland firefighting in North Carolina, Dr. Hawkins then does a deeper exploration specifically of the role of cultural burning in the state, focused on the Lumbee Indian experience. This anthropological exploration of past and contemporary public health considerations offers those attending numerous insights into ways wildland fire can be managed in the future. Following the presentation there will be time for audience Q/A with the speaker.
Registration Link: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GMsO8ogAT2-DfePPGx00eQ

SFE Webinar: Evaluating Prescribed Fire Communications in the Southeast
2025-04-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, United States
Host: Florida Forest Service, the Southern Fire Exchange, the University of Florida IFAS, and the Joint Fire Science Program.
Speaker: Ludie Bond, Ph.D., Wildfire Mitigation Specialist/Public Information Officer, Florida Forest Service
Description: Join Dr. Ludie Bond as she shares key insights from her latest research on public perceptions of prescribed burning, the importance of adaptive fire communication strategies, and identifying trusted messengers for delivering prescribed fire information. With over 20 years of experience as a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and Public Information Officer with the Florida Forest Service, Dr. Bond will provide expert perspectives on effective outreach. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a discussion on best practices for prescribed fire communication.
Registration Link: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eEnAe0hWR6mUx60MyUItNA#/registration

SFE Webinar: Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Land Management by USFWS-SE
2025-05-08 13:00 - 14:00
**Rescheduled to May 8th due to technical difficulties immediately prior to the broadcast.**
Host: US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Southern Fire Exchange, the University of Florida IFAS, and the Joint Fire Science Program.
Speaker: Emily Link, US Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast-Fire Ecologist
Description: Since 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Fire Management Division has employed terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology to monitor hazardous fuels and habitat structure. In collaboration with various organizations and data scientists, a comprehensive process has been developed to analyze, display, and visualize the resulting metrics and point clouds. This empirical data supports land management decisions and, when paired with visual representations, serves as an effective communication tool to inform stakeholders about the impact of management treatments, such as prescribed fire. Additionally, the 3D LiDAR data is being integrated into advanced fire modeling systems, including QUIC-Fire, to enhance wildland fire decision support capabilities. Following the presentation there will be time for audience Q/A with the speaker.
Registration Link: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sMCQ9ro0RgONGdEpB8iF0w

Partner Webinar: Reshaping Wildfire and Fuels Reduction Information
2025-05-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Host: Southwest Ecological Restoration Institute, Southwest Fire Consortium, and the Joint Fire Science Program.
Speaker: Aidan Franko, Aaron Kimple, Patti Dappen, Anson Call, and Scott Franz of Northern Arizona University
Description: The Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) established the ReShape program in response to feedback from policymakers, land managers, and researchers. ReShape (www.reshapewildfire.org) compiles and displays national-scale data on forest treatments and wildfires through the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG), a user-friendly, collaborative, and open-access decision support tool. Research efforts focus on four key areas: social science for collaborative decision-making, biophysical effects of forest treatments, data science for large dataset analysis, and economic assessments led by the Conservation Economics Institute. At this critical stage, ReShape is fostering dialogue on TWIG’s effectiveness while refining the tool to better support wildfire risk reduction efforts. This webinar will provide a tool demonstration, lessons from case studies, and a Q&A session to help researchers, land managers, and graduate students access and incorporate nationwide wildfire and fuel treatment data through the TWIG into their analyses for better understandings of fuel treatment effectiveness across boundaries.
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/-qEYXhl8Rqeu7KhiwBFmbQ#/registration

Partner Webinar: BEHAVE 7 for Fire Analysts
2025-05-20 13:00 - 15:00
Host: Northern Rockies Fire Science Network, the USDA Forest Service Missoula Fire Lab, and the Joint Fire Science Program.
Co-hosted by: California Fire Science Consortium, Lake States Fire Science Consortium, Great Basin Fire Science Exchange, Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, Southern Fire Exchange, Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium, and the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange
Speakers: Faith Heinsch, LaWen Hollingsworth, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
Description: Behave7 has just been released! We will discuss how Behave v7 differs from BehavePlus v6 by highlighting the Surface and Surface/Crown modules and enhancements that will be included in the next few releases in 2025-2026. This webinar will be most useful for fire analysts, S-390 cadres, and S-490 cadres.
Registration Link: https://uidaho.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nyo6okObTVmwLc4akbIPww#/registration

Partner Webinar: BEHAVE 7 for Prescribed Fire Planning
2025-05-22 13:00 - 15:00
Host: Northern Rockies Fire Science Network, the USDA Forest Service Missoula Fire Lab, and the Joint Fire Science Program.
Co-hosted by: California Fire Science Consortium, Lake States Fire Science Consortium, Great Basin Fire Science Exchange, Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, Southern Fire Exchange, Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium, and the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange
Speakers: Faith Heinsch, LaWen Hollingsworth, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
Description: Behave7 has just been released! We will discuss how Behave v7 differs from BehavePlus v6 by highlighting the Surface, Surface/Crown, Surface/Mortality, and Surface/Contain modules and enhancements that will be included in the next few releases in 2025-2026. This webinar will be useful for both burn bosses and RX-300 cadres.
Registration Link: https://uidaho.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QPH8z2lTSvGuncuu-R8FzQ#/registration

Partner Webinar: Living with Fire in North Carolina
2025-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Online, United States
Host: NC State University Extension Forestry
Description: This webinar will address wildfire risk in the wake of Hurricane Helene and how to protect your home from wildfire. In addition, the presenters will discuss how to reduce wildfire risk, including land management options such as prescribed burning.
Registration Link: https://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/living-with-fire-in-north-carolina?sr=wp~mkt-whenPub

Partner Webinar: Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Response Technology & AirNow Fire and Smoke Map
2025-06-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Online, United States
Host: US EPA
Description: Wildfires are a major source of poor air quality across the U.S. This webinar will showcase two tools to help state, local, and tribal air quality and public health agencies in assisting the public in getting and interpreting near real-time air quality information during wildfires and smoke events and steps they can take to protect their health. The Wildfire SMoke Air monitoring Response Technology (WSMART)loan program provides emerging technologies to air quality emergency responders. The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides the public with information on fire locations, smoke plumes, near real-time air quality, Smoke Outlooks for large U.S. wildfires, and protective actions to take – all in one place. People across the nation can use this information about wildfire smoke and air quality to reduce their exposure and protect their health. Join the webinar to learn more about WSMART and the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
Registration Link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/9017467161248/WN_3HOHmWLNSFSSsdAg4lhVyQ#/registration

Partner Webinar: Leveraging the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG)
2025-07-23 15:00 - 16:30 | Online, United States
Leveraging the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG): An Open-Access Tool for Exploring National Wildfire and Fuel Treatment Interactions

When: July 23, 3:00 – 4:30 ET
Hosted by: Fire Learning Network, Southwest Ecological Restoration Institute
More Information: https://tnc.zoom.us/meeting/register/kDOWXFXwR3mQufOJz-Yt_g

Leveraging the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG): An Open-Access Tool for Exploring National Wildfire and Fuel Treatment Interactions
Effective landscape-scale wildfire management relies on the seamless integration of diverse datasets from federal and state sources. This webinar introduces the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) ReSHAPE program and its cornerstone tool: the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG). TWIG is a comprehensive, open-access geodatabase and interactive viewer that compiles existing fuel treatment and wildfire data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and Department of the Interior systems of record, covering all 50 states and 9 territories.

Through a brief tool demonstration and discussion of research case studies, attendees will learn how TWIG supports understanding treatment effects, planning effective mitigation strategies, and communicating treatment outcomes and needs.

Presenter: Aidan Franko, RESHAPE Communications Manager, Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes

Wildfire Science and Technology Commons Launch
2025-07-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, United States
When: Thursday, July 31st, 2025.
Where: Online
Hosted by: The Wildfire Science & Technology Commons is a UC San Diego initiative funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Register for the webinar: HERE

On July 31, 2025 at 10 am PDT the Wildfire Science & Technology Commons will be hosting an event to launch the Wildfire Commons community platform! The Wildfire Science & Technology Commons is a central hub for data, models, computing resources, and expertise to enable wildland fire researchers to collaborate with each other and work with practitioners to move theoretical ideas and experimental workflows into impactful, scalable real-world solutions. Join the launch event to learn how you can begin using the Wildfire Commons.

SFE-CAFMS Joint Webinar: Historical Fire Regimes and Vegetation Patterns of the Blue Ridge and Vicinity
2025-09-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, United States
Historical Fire Regimes & Vegetation Patterns of the Blue Ridge & Vicinity

When: Sept. 25th, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Hosted by: Southern Fire Exchange and Consortium of Appalachians Fire Managers and Scientists
More Information: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_umDD9nGHS3OTDtXTpQ70ig#/registration

The boundary between the SFE and CAFMS regions is the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite this administrative boundary and the striking topographic differences on either side of it, the Blue Ridge and the western Piedmont share some commonalities—indeed, some linkages—in their historical vegetation cover and fire regimes. This webinar will consider the history of fire and fire-dependent vegetation along the Blue Ridge escarpment as well as the greater Blue Ridge Mountains region (northern and southern Blue Ridge) and western Piedmont. Multiple historical and paleoecological datasets provide glimpses of past fire regimes on these landscapes and hint at the abundance and extent of fire-dependent vegetation. These datasets include early travelers’ accounts; witness trees from land surveys; old maps, artwork, and photographs; soil and sediment charcoal; and tree-ring data on tree ages and fire scars. Analyses of these records indicate that, before fire prevention and suppression, fires burned frequently over much of the area and maintained communities such as pine and oak woodlands and savannas.

Presenter: Dr. Charles Lafon, Professor of Geography at Texas A&M University

Partner Webinar: Building Healthy Habitats and Reducing Wildfire Risk: Prescribed Burning in the SE
2025-09-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, United States
Partner Webinar: Building Healthy Habitats and Reducing Wildfire Risk: Prescribed Burning in the SE

When: Sept. 30th, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Hosted by: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
More Information and webinar registration

Description: “Join us on September 30th at 1 pm ET for our next Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Conservation Science Speaker event. Our speaker, Shan Cammack, Georgia DNR Wildlife Biologist, Fire Management Officer for the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources, Chair of the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council, and former Longleaf Partnership Council member, will take a closer look at the role of prescribed fire in restoring and managing fire-adapted ecosystems in the Southeast. As Shan often says, “The South is going to burn. Either we pick the day, or Mother Nature picks the day.” Prescribed fire is more than land management. It’s conservation in action, rooted in science, ethics, and community stewardship. We invite our partners, landowners, and the broader conservation community to join us in exploring how fire continues to shape the landscapes and wildlife we care about.💧🦌🦃”

Presenter:

Shan Cammack: Georgia DNR Wildfire Resources Division

Oak Woodlands-SFE-CAFMS Joint Webinar: Changing Large Wildfire Regime Dynamics in the Eastern US
2025-10-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Online, United States
Changing Large Wildfire Regime Dynamics in the Eastern US

When: Oct. 7th, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Hosted by: Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium, Southern Fire Exchange, and Consortium of Appalachians Fire Managers and Scientists
More Information: https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/mvH72CZlS3y-IJq2SXO4yQ#/registration

Dr. Donovan will provide a summary of her lab’s ongoing research investigations into changes in large (>200 ha) wildfire activity across multiple scales in the eastern U.S. and the interacting factors affecting wildfire risk. Specifically, we found shifting wildfire regime characteristics across south and central ecoregions in the east that include increasing wildfire number, size, and annual occurrence, along with changes in wildfire seasonality. Just under half of all wildfires burned within the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where the greatest risk to human life and property from wildfires exists. Increases in large wildfire are largely occurring outside the WUI, though these wildfires tend to be closer to the WUI than expected at random. We find factors such as suppression potential, weather conditions, and patterns in woody cover influence the WUI-wildfire dynamic, but relationships vary regionally. We also identified long-term increases in woody cover across eastern ecoregions, linking higher levels of woody cover to heightened wildfire risk in multiple locations. Further investigations have found that woody cover interactions with short-term drought strongly predict large wildfire occurrence across numerous eastern ecoregions. While further research into the drivers of changing large wildfire patterns is needed, we suggest the strategic application of fuels management along with the development of fire-resistant homes and buildings to enhance community resilience to wildfire in the east.

Presenter: Dr. Victoria Donovan, University of Florida

Partner Webinar: Fire Management and Silviculture in Oak Ecosystems
2025-10-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Online, United States
Partner Webinar: Fire Management and Silviculture in Oak Ecosystems

When: Oct. 16th, 10:00-11:00 a.m. ET
Hosted by: USDA Forest Service Northern and Southern Research Stations
More Information: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/cf1bfebf-22c1-450a-b3b2-7646ef7535fe@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email

Prescribed fire is a crucially important management tool for oaks. Presenters will discuss prescribed fire as well as the importance of mechanical treatments. This webinar will feature land managers and researchers. This webinar is part of a series focused on oak ecosystems in the eastern United States. Learn more about this webinar series and the related events.

Presenters: Dr. Lauren Pile and Jason Rodrigue, USDA Forest Service
