Inaugural Forest Innovation Reviews (FIRz) Calls for Speakers

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities will present the first annual Forest Innovation Reviews (FIRz), on September 18, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. The inaugural FIRz event will establish a space for presenting well-formed ideas about forests, forest management, forest products and forest-rich communities, conveyed through short, powerful talks. The deadline for nominating yourself or someone else for FIRz 2019 is February 28, 2019.The presentation voted by attendees as "Most Likely to Make a Lasting Difference” will be awarded $10,000.  Learn more and nominate a speaker, or view speaker guidelines.

SFE to Host Four Separate Webinars Through January and February

The Southern Fire Exchange will host five webinars throughout the first two months of 2019, covering: longleaf fire ecology, mapping burned areas, the National Prescribed Fire Use Survey Report, fire in landscape management, and homeowner preparedness in the WUI. Registration is required for all webinars. The first webinar, Longleaf and Ponderosa Pine Fire Ecology: How History can be your Guide , is on January 17, 2019 at 1:00 PM EST. Links to register for this webinar can be found on the webinar schedule. View the entire webinar schedule.

23rd Annual Urban Forestry and Horticulture Conference in Florence, AL

The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service is presenting the 23rd Annual Urban Forestry and Horticulture Conference on March 16, 2019. "Spruce Up Your Spring" is the theme of this year's conference, sponsored by City of Florence Mayor and City Council, the Florence Beautification Board, Tree Commission, and Urban Forestry/Horticulture Department. Two specialty tracks will be offered: Horticulture and Urban Forestry, with ISA points available. Learn more and register for the conference.

LSU Welcomes Valerie West as ANR Extension Agent for Northwest LA

The LSU AgCenter has announced Valerie West as their next ANR Extension Agent for Northwest Louisiana. West is a timber specialist who is set to replace longtime agent and recent retiree Ricky Kilpatrick. West previously worked over 12 years for the Weyerhaeuser Company doing productivity research covering territories west of the Mississippi river, including southern Louisiana and Mississippi. She later moved to the Webster and Bienville parish area in Louisiana to work with loblolly pine seed production before moving to Mississippi State University to pursue her Doctorate in Forestry. Read more about Valerie West.

SFE Releases Bi-Monthly Fire Lines Newsletter for January 

The Southern Fire Exchange has released their January edition of Fire Lines. Fire Lines is a newsletter that presents and discusses the latest Southeastern Fire news, recent projects, and activities.These include success stories, fact sheets, articles, papers, books, guides, or other resources, as well as info on upcoming events or past event summaries. View the newsletter.

UK Forestry Extension Accepts National Award

The University of Kentucky Forestry and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension received the Comprehensive Family Forests Education Award from the National Woodland Owners Association and the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs. The award is presented to an educational institution that has delivered the most effective education program benefiting family forest owners over the past five years. This is Kentucky Extension's second time receiving this national honor. Learn more about the award.

How the 2018 Farm Bill Affects Forestry

The United States Congress has passed the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government, it also includes forestry. The $867 billion Bill includes an increase in the number of timber jobs, water restoration, conservation and innovative provisions in the forestry industry. It was signed into law by the President December 20, 2018. View more on how the Farm Bill affects forestry.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2019 Now Accepting Applications

The National Fire Protection Association and State Farm announce the start of the funding award application period for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 4, 2019. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live.150 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects will be sponsored across the country. To enter, you must create a brief description of the proposed project you or your group will undertake and complete on Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. All project applications must be submitted by March 1, 2019. Learn more and and submit an application.  

 

AFTA Now Accepting Abstract Submissions for 2019 Conference

The Association for Temperate Agroforestry is now accepting proposals for presentations, posters and oral sessions for their 16th Annual North American Agroforestry Conference in Corvallis, Oregon. Submissions must be congruent with the conference theme. The number of abstracts that can be submitted by a presenting author is limited to two for oral presentations, three for poster presentations, and two for session proposals. The abstract submission deadlines is June 24-27, 2019. Learn more and submit an abstract .

2019 ANREP Awards Program Now Taking Nominations 

The 2019 ANREP Awards Program is now taking nominations in order to recognize significantly achieving members. Awards are split between categories of outstanding education materials and achievement. To be eligible to participate in the awards program, the nominator and nominee(s) must be paid active members and in good standing for the year in which the award application is being submitted. Self-nominations are allowed.The deadline for nominations is February 15, 2019. Read the guidelines or nominate a member.

IUFRO Seeking Proposals for 2019 Small-Scale Forestry Conference

The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is seeking proposals for the Small-Scale Forestry Conference. The event will be held in Duluth, Minnesota from July 8-10, 2019. Proposals can be submitted as either an oral presentation or a poster. Proposals must relate to social, economic, and ecological dimensions of small-scale, family, farm, non- industrial, agro- and community forestry. Proposals are due January 15, 2019. Learn more or submit a proposal.

WoodWorks to Host Webinar: IBC Tall Wood Code Provisions

The WoodWorks Product Council is hosting a free webinar on February 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM EST. The International Code Council approved 14 code change proposals in December, 2018. This webinar will provide an overview of the new code provisions, including allowable heights and areas, fire-resistance ratings, allowances for exposing the timber structure and/or encapsulating with non-combustible materials, options for utilizing concealed spaces and more. These new code provisions will be included as part of the 2021 International Building Code (IBC). The webinar is presented by Carl Baldassarra. View the webinar portal.

WoodWorks to Host Webinar: Mass Timber Structure Development 

The WoodWorks Product Council is hosting a free webinar on March 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM EST. This webinar will discuss the results of a case study completed by a team of industry leaders who developed a design, engineering and cost feasibility study to serve as an example for the design of a 12-story mixed-use mass timber tower in Seattle. This presentation will explore that project, which utilized Type IV-B Construction and required 2-hour fire-resistant ratings for primary frame, bearing walls and floors. Standing 214 feet tall, the mixed-use program for this project includes street-level retail, five floors of commercial offices, and a 192-key hotel on the top six floors. View the webinar portal.

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