Southern Fire Exchange

Forest Inventory and Analysis Science Symposium
2024-11-19 08:00 - 2024-11-21 17:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

*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

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.

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: 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.

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!

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.​​

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.

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

Partner Field Tour: Exploring Fire & Old Forests in the Red Hills of Florida
2025-04-29 08:00 - 17:00
Exploring Fire and Old Forests in the Red Hills of Florida
When: Wednesday, April 29 22 through Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Where: Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, Florida
Hosted by: Forest Stewards Guild and Tall Timbers Research Station.
More information and registration (required): Available HERE
Join the Guild and Tall Timbers on April 29th for a full-day tour in the heart of the Red Hills region, a 300,000-acre conservation focus area between Thomasville, Georgia, and Tallahassee, Florida. The tour will kick off with a light breakfast of bagels and coffee at the lodge kitchen on Tall Timbers property at 8:00 a.m., followed by a 9:00 a.m. gathering at the main lodge before loading into vehicles for the day’s site visits. Participants will explore key ecosystems, starting with an upland longleaf pine savannah, home to the largest remaining concentration of this forest type within 30 minutes of Tall Timbers, where fire management parallels with western landscapes will be discussed. The tour will continue to the Beech-Magnolia Bottomland Forest, an iconic and well-studied ecosystem on Tall Timbers property, expected to be in bloom in April. The final stop will be a shortleaf pine site, also located on Tall Timbers land.
The group will return to Tall Timbers for a catered dinner, drinks, and discussion in the barn. In the evening, participants can choose to stay overnight at the Tall Timbers Lodge, with limited accommodations for 8-16 people depending on room-sharing preferences, or return to Tallahassee. See link above for more information and 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

2025 North Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Meeting
2025-06-12 08:00 - 15:30
North Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Meeting 2025 Agenda
North Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Meeting

When: Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Where: Chattahoochee Technical College, Jasper, Georgia
Hosted by: Georgia Prescribed Fire Council
Description: Sign up now for the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council’s north GA meeting. It will be June 12 in Jasper. It’s a great time to learn about the latest hot topics, network with others that are fired up, and win cool door prizes! See below for registration information.
More information and registration (required): Available HERE

Fire and Flora Field Tour: Managing Wildfire and Rare Plant Communities at Glade Top Trail Scenic Byway, Mark Twain National Forest
2025-07-09 08:00 - 2025-07-13 17:00
Fire and Flora Field Tour: Managing Wildfire and Rare Plant Communities at Glade Top Trail Scenic Byway, Mark Twain National Forest
When: July 9, 2025
Where: Glade Top Trail Scenic Byway, near Ava, Missouri.
Hosted by: Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium, Mark Twain National Forest, Joint Fire Science Program, and the Missouri Prescribed Fire Council
More Information: Available HERE

Register here (required for planning purposes): https://forms.gle/WDHXkYn7Bt4TrEqx8
*Attendance limited to first 50 registrants due to site restraints, a wait list will be started if needed.
Join this free fire science and management field tour of the Glade Top Trail Scenic Byway (located near Ava, Missouri)! This field tour is one of many happening at the same time across the eastern U.S., as part of the 2025 NE-MW Regional Prescribed Fire Workshop happening virtually July 8-10.
Hosted in partnership by the Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium, Mark Twain National Forest, and the Missouri Prescribed Fire Council, this field tour will explore key topics related to prescribed fire management, showcasing the effects of 40+ years of prescribed fire and the exceptionally diverse limestone/dolomite glades and woodlands found here. This exciting tour will be of interest to fire and land management professionals, botanists, and private landowners. Field tour stops will be located along the 23-mile driving trail and will include discussions with regional experts about prescribed fire management activities and outcomes, rare plant communities, and wildfire issues.
**Continuing education credit from the Society of American Foresters and The Wildlife Society anticipated
Date: July 9, 2025
Start/Stop time: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Meet-up location will be shared by email after registration.
Information about this site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/regions/eastern/GladeTopTrail/index.shtml

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.

North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Meeting
2025-08-05 08:00 - 2025-08-06 17:00
When: August 5-6, 2025.
Where: Oxford, North Carolina
Hosted by: North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council
Description: The North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 5th, at the Granville County Convention & Expo Center in Oxford, NC. A social will be held that evening at Tobacco Wood Brewing in Oxford, with a field trip to be held Wednesday, August 6th. There are several options for meeting attendance. Prices are based on the membership fee structure outlined on the PFC website. They do plan to provide a virtual attendance option in which attendees can watch the meeting live via Zoom. In-person meeting attendance includes lunch and snacks as well as the evening social.
More Information and Registration: Here

2025 Habitat Summit
2025-08-08 08:30 - 16:45 | 215 N Main St #2527, Mooresville, NC 28115 (The Charles Mack Citizen Center)
2025 Habitat Summit
When: August 8, 2025
Where: 215 N Main St #2527, Mooresville, NC 28115 (The Charles Mack Citizen Center)
Hosted by: Three Rivers Land Trust
More information and registration: Available HERE
The Habitat Summit is a one-day, multi-session workshop where national experts share the latest land management techniques. Whether you’re managing your land for pollinators, timber, or game species, this is your one-stop shop to connect with the experts.

Southeast CASC 2025 Regional Science Symposium
2025-09-09 08:00 - 2025-09-11 17:00
When: September 9-11, 2025
Where: Asheville, North Carolina
Hosted by: Southeast CASC
More Information: Available HERE

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Fire Management Technology Workshop
2025-09-17 08:00 - 2025-09-18 17:00
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Fire Management Technology Workshop
When: September 17-18, 2025
Where: Daisy, Oklahoma
Hosted by: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern Innovation Landscape Network, SE Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
More Information: Available HERE

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO), in partnership with the Eastern Innovation Landscape Network (EILN) and Southeast Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, would like to invite you to join them September 17-18th at CNO in Daisy, OK for a Fire Management and Technology Workshop. CNO is a leader in wildland fire innovation and science-based land management. Recent examples include: Partnering with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test and evaluate advanced operations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and monitoring of CNO Forestry Service prescribed burns. Acquiring and becoming qualified to operate UAS for aerial ignition and airborne LiDAR surveys. Planning and implementing a terrestrial LiDAR monitoring program to evaluate the effects of prescribed fire, timber, and land management. Participating as a partner in the EILN
The workshop partners are planning to showcase these novel science-based initiatives at CNO and to explore the cutting edge of 3D fuels characterization and next generation fire behavior models being tested and evaluated by the EILN. If there is enough interest, they may also offer either terrestrial LiDAR data collector or a FAA Part 107 short course training in preparation to become qualified to operate UAS/UAV on September 16th.
For more information on this workshop, please see the flier above and the CNO/EILN Fire Management Technology Workshop Survey.
If you know of others in your organization or network who might be interest in this workshop, please spread the word and share this email, flier, and survey link.

Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Meeting
2025-09-23 08:00 - 16:00
When: Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Where: Valdosta, Georgia
Hosted by: Georgia Prescribed Fire Council
Description: See the registration link below for the meeting agenda, location information, and registration information.
Register here

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
