Drones are rapidly changing how we manage natural resources. Join us for our next SFE Webinar on Thursday, November 3 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET with Mr. Brett Lawrence from RAVEN Environmental Services. Mr. Lawrence will be talking about how their private prescribed burning program has integrated UAS into their ignition practices. He’ll be discussing how UAS (drones) have changed their prescribed burning program, what they have learned along the way, and challenges that have emerged. Register for the Zoom Webinar. Questions? [email protected]
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Register for the Fueling Collaboration 3.0 Webinar Series
Fueling Collaboration is a virtual event that moves beyond research presentations by featuring engaging panel discussions with fire managers and scientists from across the Eastern US. Registration is open for the Fueling Collaboration 3.0 Webinar Series hosted by the six eastern Fire Science Exchange Networks and the US Forest Service Northern and Southern Research Stations. Webinars run monthly starting in November and ending in February. Visit www.fuelingcollab.com for more info.
Continue ReadingLouisiana “Prescribed Fire for Agriculture” Workshop
Mr. Keith Hawkins, Extension Agent from LSU shared the following free workshop announcement.
Louisiana Prescribed Fire for Agriculture Workshop
Tuesday, October 18, 8:30 am – Noon, Rosepine Research Station, 176 Research Station Road, Leesville, LA 71446
The LSU AgCenter, and the LA Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) will be having a workshop to enable agricultural landowners to burn their lands safely and legally. Topics will include fuels, burning techniques, proper tools, optimal weather conditions, smoke management, liability management, planning, fire behavior and more.
This training will begin the process of becoming LA Certified Burn Manager. The completion of five prescribed fires and their documentation will complete the process. The cost is $ZERO. Class size is limited to the first 25 applicants.
To sign up or for questions, please call 337.463.7006 or email [email protected].
Continue ReadingNorth Carolina Isolated Wetlands Management Workshop Recording
The recording of a recent online isolated wetlands management workshop hosted by the North Carolina Forest Service, NC State University, The Nature Conservancy, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Division is now online. The workshop focused on isolated wetlands in North Carolina, but included strategies and discussion topics that could be relevant to sites elsewhere in the southeastern US. Check out the workshop agenda:
- Welcome, introduction, and participant poll – Jeff Hall (NCWRC), Julian Wilson (NCFS)
- Importance of Bladen Lakes region for wetland restoration – Jeff Marcus (TNC)
- Splendid Isolation: The importance of isolated wetlands to herpetofauna in North Carolina– Jeff Beane (NCMNS)
- Rare Plants of Isolated Wetlands in Southeastern NC – Katherine Culatta (NCPCP)
- Isolated wetland natural communities– Mike Schafale (NCNHP)
- Habitat degradation, restoration strategies, & examples from FL – Mike Sisson (NCWRC)
- Examples of wetland restoration in NC – Jeff Humphries (NCWRC)
- Fire and wetland management – Ken Shughart (NCWRC)
- Round Robin overview of key conservation lands in region
- Bladen Lakes State Forest – Hans Rohr (NCFS)
- Bay Tree Lake/Jones Lake/Singletary Lake State Parks – Ed Corey (NCSP)
- Suggs Mill Pond & Whitehall Game Lands – Ken Shughart
- Key private lands (Broadwell/Bayfields) – Richard Broadwell
- Overview of field trip logistics and objectives
- Closing remarks
Check out the recording on the Forestry Webinar Portal.
Continue ReadingUSFS SRS Research Explores Future Wildfire Impacts
A recent research report Climate Risk Exposure: An Assessment of the Federal Government’s Financial Risks to Climate Change (pdf) coproduced by researchers from the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station describes the potential impacts of climate change on US wildfires, smoke, and human health.
Wildfires are projected to burn three times as much area on federal lands by the end of the century, as compared to previous decades. Furthermore, across all climate scenarios, median federal spending for wildfire suppression is projected nearly triple, translating into a $3.70 billion increase compared to historic spending over the same time frame.
-USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station
The report explains how climate change will increase the cost of wildfire suppression, the human health impacts of wildfire smoke, and the area burned by wildfires. The projected increases depend on the climate change scenario used in the model. For more information see this summary by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station or read the full report (pdf).
Continue ReadingFiretopia provides resources for community resilience planning
Firetopia is a new interactive website from Headwaters Economics provides information and links related to community plan development, CWPPs, land development and zoning, building codes, fuels reduction, risk assessment, and funding opportunities. The website is organized coherently and provides numerous links to examples of outside resources. This may be a great resource to share with students, wildfire mitigation specialists, and community groups.
Continue Reading2022 Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Hybrid Meeting Agenda Now Available
🔥 FREE In-Person and Virtual Registration Here
🔥 The full meeting agenda is now available on the Central Florida PFC website
— There will also be equipment demonstrations, sponsor booths, raffle prizes, and pizza 🍕 (including vegetarian options) for in-person participants.
— Both in-person and virtual attendees will be able to view sponsor videos during the coffee break.
Attend either in-person or virtually to receive Florida Certified Burn Manager credit and/or
4.5 hours of Category 1 Society of American Foresters Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits.
If you have any questions about credits, email [email protected]
Join SFE Live from the Field this Friday
SFE Live from the Field: Protecting Giant Sequoias from the Ground Up
Let’s take a field trip out West! Join us this Friday, September 9th from 12:00 – 12:30 PM ET for our first SFE Live from the Field with Ludie Bond, Florida Forest Service Public Information Officer and Gretchen Fitzgerald, Sequoia National Forest Ecosystem Staff Officer.
Ludie Bond is a long-time friend of the Southern Fire Exchange currently assigned to support the Giant Sequoia Emergency Response effort on the Sequoia National Forest in California. She and Gretchen Fitzgerald will explain current and ongoing efforts to protect giant sequoia from wildfire and return prescribed fire to the groves.
Continue ReadingCohesive Strategy Workshop Program Released
The program and schedule for the upcoming 5th National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop has just been released. Registration is now open for the workshop which will be held from November 14th – 18th at the DoubleTree Asheville Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. The Southern Fire Exchange will have a booth at the conference and hopefully we’ll see you there!
Continue ReadingSouthern Missouri Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX)
See below for an announcement regarding a FREE Prescribed Fire Training (TREX) event coming up next February and March in southern Missouri. Registration is open now. TREX events are great opportunities to increase your qualifications and experience in prescribed fire and for out-of-state applicants, TREX events can help you gain experience burning in new ecosystems and regions. Info and links below.
Southern Missouri Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) February 27th – March 10th, 2023
Location: Springfield, Missouri Area
Description: Looking for an opportunity to sharpen your prescribed fire skills? We invite you to participate in the Southern Missouri TREX, where putting good fire on the ground will be just as important as providing quality training opportunities for participants.
Who can participate? Prescribed/Wildfire staff including federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental organizations, private practitioners, and higher education faculty/students. We are committed to diversity and respect for people, communities, and culture. All will be welcome!
Unfamiliar with TREX? Click here Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (conservationgateway.org) for more information.
Registration Fee: None—this event is being sponsored through a USFS: Cohesive Strategy grant and no registration fee will be collected.
Work Hours: Will need to be covered by your home unit.
Meals and Lodging: Provided for the duration of the event and will be in bunk style housing.
Participant Requirements:
• Participants must be current and qualified NWCG-FFT2, or have completed NWCG courses S-130, S-190, L-180, ICS 100, I-700 (all of which are available for free online). Contact Ryan Gauger ([email protected]) for more information on these trainings; verification of training is required to attend.
• Participants must complete an arduous pack test within the past year. Completion of a moderate pack test is acceptable if coming as a TNC volunteer and serving in a RXCM (Rx crewmember) position. A pack test will be offered to those who need one and cannot obtain one prior to the TREX start date.
• Participants must have health insurance which will cover personal injury (e.g., workers’ comp, health or travel insurance)
• Participants must bring fire-approved boots (all leather, 8-inches tall, Vibram soles, with no steel toe). Participants should come with all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including: a Next Generation Fire Shelter, a hard hat, Nomex clothing, all leather gloves, eye protection and canteens for up to 1 gallon of drinking water. If you do not have proper PPE, please let us know, we will work with you to find any items you do not have. Please indicate your needs on the application.
We need your help! If your agency/organization is able to provide either a Type 6 Engine or crew cab truck for transport of crew for this event your application will receive priority in the nomination process.
Registration: To apply, complete this application form TREX Nomination Form (jotform.com) by November 11th, 2022 (notifications will be sent out by the end of November)
COVID-19: All participants will be required to provide proof of vaccination of COVID-19 prior to arriving at this TREX.
Questions: Please contact Ryan Gauger ([email protected] or 812-599-2562)
This training is supported by Promoting Ecosystem Resilience and Fire Adapted Communities Together, a cooperative agreement between The Nature Conservancy, USDA Forest Service and agencies of the Department of the Interior.
An equal opportunity provider
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