Southern Fire Exchange

SFE Webinar: The Health Parameters of Wildland Firefighting and Cultural Burning
2025-04-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 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

Southern Silvicultural Research Conference
2025-03-18 08:00 - 2025-03-20 17:00 | Greenville, South Carolina
Southern Silvicultural Research Conference
When: Tuesday, March 18 through Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Where: The Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
Hotel Reservations: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/GSPRG/G-FOST
Hosted by: Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University and USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station.
Abstract Submissions: Available HERE
Registration: Available HERE
Initiated in 1980, the Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference (BSSRC) provides a forum for scientists and practitioners and graduate and undergraduate students broadly engaged in forestry and southern silviculture to report their study results, present new concepts and techniques, discuss topics of mutual interest, coordinate cooperative efforts, and stay current on developments in the field. For decades, the BSSRC and its published proceedings have been invaluable sources of information on current and developing trends in southern silviculture.
While the offerings of the BSSRC are inherently related to silviculture, presentations have ranged across topics as diverse as southern pine management, hardwood management, nutritional amendments, site preparation and vegetation management, natural and artificial regeneration of tree species, intermediate treatments and stand tending, midstory competition control, modeling, growth and yield, best management practices, water quality, prescribed fire, forest health, silvicultural history, economics of forest management, and wildlife ecology as it relates to silvicultural treatments.
The BSSRC consists of two days of concurrent sessions, an evening poster session, and an optional field tour on the third day.

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.​​

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

Southern Region Extension Forestry & Natural Resources Meeting 2025
2025-02-05 08:00 - 2025-02-06 17:00 | Starkville, MS
When: Wednesday, February 5 through Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Where: Plymouth Bluff Center, near Starkville, Mississippi
Hosted by: Southern Regional Extension Forestry and Mississippi State University Extension
Registration and More Information: Available HERE
Description: This meeting is designed for Extension professionals in Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resources from the 13 Southern states. It’s a great chance to connect with fellow colleagues, learn from one another, and discuss the latest trends and research in our field. Find more meeting details here: https://sref.info/meeting/info Don’t miss out on the chance to share your work and ideas!

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.

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.

Drought & Aquatic Ecosystems in the Southeast Workshop
2025-01-07 08:00 - 2025-01-09 17:00 | Raleigh, NC, Raleigh, North Carolina
Save the dates for a regional workshop on ‘Drought and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Southeast: Informing drought response and ecological resilience to future low-flow events’ will be held on January 7-9, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Registration will open in August on the workshop website. Sign up to be notified when registration opens. Further agenda details to come.
What: Given the broad interest and need to better understand and plan for ecological drought in the Southeast, the USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC) and NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), in support of the Southeast Drought Early Warning System (DEWS), will convene a 3-day workshop addressing drought and low-flow in the Southeast.

Theme 1 will focus on understanding drought/low-flow ecosystem impacts and water resource management in the context of the Southeast.
Theme 2 will focus on ecological drought monitoring and response in the near-term.
Theme 3 will focus on incorporating drought/low-flow in long-term resilience and adaptation planning.

This workshop will provide an opportunity to share available science, resources, and best practices; jointly identify key management priorities and research questions; and expand the region’s ability to respond and prepare for future droughts.
Who: The intended audience for this workshop are federal, Tribal, regional, and state natural resource managers, water resource managers, drought planners, regional boundary organizations (water and climate), scientists, and data providers. The geographic scope will be Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Why: The Southeast region has experienced several periods of exceptional drought in the 21st century and is a hot spot for frequent drought events that can rapidly intensify. Competing water demands stress supply even in this humid region. Historically, drought has been viewed in terms of its agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic impacts. How drought affects ecosystems—and the services they provide human communities—has only recently been acknowledged as an important area of research. The USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center held an ecological drought workshop in 2016 to better understand management challenges in a regional context. In the seven years since this regional discussion, there has been a significant amount of hydroclimatic change research, but a limited focus on ecosystem impacts, especially in the Southeast. Understanding the impacts of low-flow and drought on natural systems to inform future research needs, management practices, and adaptation planning is a critical need. The time is ripe to weave together and articulate what we have learned so far from the science community, identify if there are some commonalities across different parts of the region, and produce a scientific baseline—driven by management and planning needs—to inform future research investments.
If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact Meredith Muth (meredith.f.muth@noaa.gov) and Kasia Nikiel (cnikiel@usgs.gov).

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.

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

*Postponed* Partner Workshop: Prescribed Fire for Wildlife
2024-12-03 08:00 - 2024-12-05 17:00 | FFA Training Center, 5000 Firetower Road, Haines City, FL, 33844, United States
**Postponed**PRESCRIBED FIRE FOR WILDLIFE
December 3-5, 2024
FFA Leadership Training Center
5000 Firetower Road
Haines City, Florida 33844
Sponsors:
Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Cooperators:
Seminole Tribe of Florida, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Park Service, Trinity College, Archbold Biological Station, Tall Timbers Research Station, Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management, South Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District, National Wild Turkey Federation, City of Gainesville, Alachua Conservation Trust
Your sponsors and cooperators are pleased to once again host “PRESCRIBED FIRE FOR WILDLIFE” at the FFA Leadership Training Center located on Lake Pierce near Haines City, Florida. Our 2024 session will be held December 3-5. Attendees are encouraged to stay onsite with meals and lodging provided. This training is designed to provide land managers and wildlife stewards with basic information on wildlife habitat management practices associated with prescribed fires in Florida. It includes sections addressing how ignition plans can be developed and implemented to meet specific wildlife objectives while minimizing risk. This training combines classroom lectures, panel discussions, and field exercises covering a variety of wildlife and habitats. Classroom activities will be held at the Leadership Training Center. Field exercises will be held at nearby central Florida wildlands and will focus on prescribed fire techniques that maintain and improve valuable wildlife habitats.
Class size is limited so early registration is encouraged. Basic Registration is $375.00 and full registration with all meals and lodging is $675.00. The Registration deadline is November 19, 2024. Register online via https://fltws.org/shop (credit cards or state or federal pcards accepted).
For additional information contact: Jim Schortemeyer (239) 455-5847 Schortfire@aol.com

Forest Inventory and Analysis Science Symposium
2024-11-19 08:00 - 2024-11-21 17:00 | Virtual
November 19-21, 2024
Virtual Event
Held every two to three years, the FIA Science Symposium (previously referred to as the Science Stakeholder Meeting) offers a unique opportunity for collaboration, scientific and technical exchange, drawing together a world-class group of partners, practitioners, and scientists with regional, national, and international inventory and monitoring missions. Hosting privileges rotate through the FIA regions. The 2024 Science Symposium is coordinated by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, FIA Program, the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI), and the Society of American Foresters (SAF).
The symposium theme is ‘Toward Tomorrow’s Forests Together.’ The following daily subthemes will highlight key foci of the symposium:

Collaborative Inventory – Fostering Partnerships for Comprehensive Data – Encourages collaboration between the FIA program and other institutions, leveraging partnerships to create more comprehensive and diverse datasets
Multidimensional Forest Stewardship – Focuses on the multifaceted nature of forests (many ecosystem services) and the use of FIA data to guide stewardship that acknowledges and supports this complexity, promoting a multidimensional approach to forest resource management.
Big Data Solutions for Inventory Challenges – Emphasizes the role of big data analytics and informatics in addressing inventory challenges, suggesting a focus on the computational tools required to process, analyze, and/or disseminate large datasets.

More information and registration.

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.

2024 Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting
2024-11-08 09:00 - 16:00 | Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, FL, 34744, United States
The 2024 Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting will be hosted in Kissimmee, FL at the Osceola Heritage Park (in the Extension Services building) on Friday, November 8th. There will be presentations by fire experts, a panel discussion, equipment demonstrations, sponsor booths, and raffle prizes. Lunch will be provided.

Click Here to Register!

This meeting has been approved for Florida Certified Burn Manager credit as well as
Society of American Foresters (SAF) Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credit.

South Florida Interagency Fire Management Council 2024 Meeting
2024-10-29 09:00 - 15:30
The South Florida Interagency Fire Management Council will meet at the C. Scott Driver Civic Center in Okeechobee, Florida on Tuesday, October 29th from 9:00 – 3:30 PM ET.
Registration link.
Meeting address: C. Scott Driver Civic Center, 10101 Hwy 78 West Okeechobee, FL 34974

Wildland Fire Canada Conference and Canadian Smoke Forum
2024-10-28 08:00 - 2024-11-01 17:00
The Wildland Fire Canada Conference (WFCC) brings together wildland fire management agencies, Indigenous knowledge holders and experts, scientists, partners, and collaborators from across Canada and around the world. This biennial conference focuses on wildland fire management, science, and knowledge-sharing in Canada.
The theme of the 2024 WFCC is Transforming Wildland Fire Management, which means taking a collective and inclusive approach to wildland fire management where all Canadians and all levels of government engage and work together to live with wildland fire through prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
This event is a hybrid conference (in person + virtual) to enhance accessibility and encourage diversity of participants. (Description from the organizers)
More information

Southeastern Partners for Plant Conservation Conference
2024-10-15 08:00 - 2024-10-18 17:00
Hosted by the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Southeastern Partners in Plant Conservation will bring together government agencies, land managers, botanical gardens, university programs, experts, professionals, and other interested parties to build capacity and promote novel partnerships for plant conservation in the Southeast. Working with a wide range of stakeholders that represent diverse interests and perspectives, this effort seeks to stimulate collective successes in local, state, and regional plant conservation.
Conference website: https://atlantabg.org/conservation-research/outreach-education-and-training/southeastern-partners-in-plant-conservation/

15th Biennial Longleaf Conference
2024-10-08 - 2024-10-11 | Miramar Beach, Florida, Miramar Beach, FL, United States
The Biennial Longleaf Conference, sponsored by The Longleaf Alliance, is a regional conference that is focused on the restoration and conservation of the longleaf ecosystem that once dominated the landscape within the southeastern United States. The conference provides the opportunity for people from all over the southeast to get together, share, learn, and celebrate longleaf. It also serves as a rallying spot for several other organizations and government agencies seeking to stage additional events in order to better collaborate on the conference topics.
This conference is open to individuals, private landowners, land managers, wildlife biologists, conservation groups, consultants, university researchers, forestry professionals, agency and outreach personnel who share an interest in restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem. On average, attendance ranges from 250-400 depending on conference location. The conference also draws from 25-35 exhibitors and vendors.
More information.

International Oak Symposium
2024-10-07 08:00 - 2024-10-10 17:00
International Oak Symposium
October 7-10, 2024 – Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

The University of Tennessee’s School of Natural Resources is proud to host an International Oak Symposium in 2024 to provide a platform to exchange information and build collaborations around the best available science and technology on oak ecology and management for a global audience. The meeting will provide innovative and progressive formats to deliver and exchange information and foster collaborations between researchers and practitioners. Field trip(s) will be offered that showcase multi-disciplinary research of the USDA Forest Service and other partners.

Link: https://naturalresources.tennessee.edu/oak-symposium/

Partner Meeting: Learning from Tribal Nations and Indigenous Practices
2024-09-26 10:00 - 14:00
Join the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the U.S. Forest Service for our upcoming virtual workshop “Partnering with Fire: Learning from Tribal Nations and Indigenous Practices.”
This virtual webinar is open to natural and cultural resource managers, especially from Tribal Nations in the southern United States, and others who want to learn more about the how Tribes work with fire to adapt to a changing climate. Registration is required.
Topics and speakers include:

Mark Morales, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Steven Parrish, USDA Forest Service: Choctaw Nation agreements with USDA Forest Service.
Gesse Bullock, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas fire crew and partnerships.
Mary Huffman, The Nature Conservancy: Indigenous Peoples Burning Network IPBN.

Registration link

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.

Society of American Foresters National Convention
2024-09-17 - 2024-09-20
SAF National Convention
LOVELAND, CO • SEPTEMBER 17-20, 2024
Conference Theme: “The Resources We Manage”
The theme “The Resources We Manage” references all the considerations that forestry and natural resources professionals need to reflect on when planning and implementing decisions on the ground. Resources mean many things to land managers — the values on the landscape, the services needed like air, water, food and fiber, the budget we work within, the tools we use, and the people we work with. As the field of forestry evolves, forestry professionals are expanding their management skillsets to include expertise in new technologies, emerging forest product markets, community outreach, and other areas. Join us in Loveland, Colorado, September 17-20, 2024, to learn from your peers, grow your network within and beyond the sector, and develop as a forestry professional.
Location: SAF Convention events will be held at the Embassy Suites Loveland Hotel & Conference Center and The Ranch Events Complex.

More information.

7th National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop
2024-09-16 08:00 - 2024-09-19 17:00
The International Association of Wildland Fire in partnership with the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) and its three regional strategy committees, invite you to save the date for the 7th Annual National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, September 16-19, 29024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
WFLC has affirmed that the Cohesive Strategy remains the solid framework by which all stakeholders can address barriers and identify solutions and actions for today’s complex wildland fire issues. The Cohesive Strategy Addendum Update was released earlier this year and provides a strategic look at the critical emphasis areas and key implementation challenges which were not addressed or have surfaced in the ten years since the development of the original 2014 Cohesive Strategy framework.
This event will take advantage of the unique opportunity to utilize the collective voice and brain trust of Workshop attendees to identify solutions and actions for barriers you’re experiencing, as well as for the Critical Emphasis Areas and Challenges outlined in the Cohesive Strategy Addendum that are keeping us from implementing the Cohesive Strategy at scale. The WFLC and its Western, Northeastern and Southeastern Regions will be pursuing these actions following the Workshop to help overcome barriers and provide further support for implementation of the Cohesive Strategy.

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: 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: 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: What Determines Water-Quality Response after Wildfire?
2024-09-10 16:00 - 17:00
USGS Webinar: Fire and Water: What determines water-quality response after wildfire?
Host: US Geological Survey
Date: Tuesday, September 10th at 4-5 pm ET
Speaker: Sheila Murphy, Research Hydrologist, USGS Water Resources Mission Area
Summary: Wildfires can increase the risk of flooding, erosion, and degraded water quality, which can damage infrastructure, increase treatment costs for drinking water providers, and impair stream ecosystems. However, the reported nature and extent of water-quality effects after wildfire have varied widely, from massive increases in the amount of sediment, nutrients, and metals delivered to downstream waters to no noticeable change. Given the wide range of potential post-wildfire effects on water supplies, water providers and land managers need accurate guidance on what to expect in their watersheds to enable plans for minimizing impacts on water supplies. This presentation will describe selected USGS work linking post-wildfire water-quality response to climate, land cover, geology, catchment hydrology, and other factors. Given the predicted ongoing risk of wildfire to water supplies, it is imperative to develop capacity to predict, monitor, and mitigate wildfire effects on our water resources.
Join the webinar here (Microsoft Teams).
The USGS Fueling Discovery with USGS Wildland Fire Sciences series is open to the public! Please feel free to forward to those who may be interested.

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.

14th North American Forest Ecology Workshop
2024-06-24 - 2024-06-27
“Integrating goals: balancing dynamic forest management objectives”
The 14th North American Forest Ecology Workshop (NAFEW) will take place June 24 – 27, 2024 in Asheville, NC
The format of the meeting will be different from past years, as we will kick off the meeting with all day field trips on Monday followed by a plenary talk in the evening. Sessions will be offered all day Tuesday, half day Wednesday, and all day Thursday. Local field trips will be offered Wednesday afternoon and workshops will occur throughout the week. A banquet is planned for Tuesday evening.
More information and registration.

2024 Association of Consulting Foresters National Conference
2024-06-22 - 2024-06-25 | Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, 1000 Tournament Players Club Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 32082
The 2024 ACF National Conference will be held June 22-25 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The Florida Chapter looks forward to welcoming you to Florida’s Historic Coast, which combines Old World charm with a rich cultural and culinary scene. Located on the scenic A1A, you’ll find a blend of laid-back luxury and natural beauty in the local forests and white quartz sand beaches.
