ISSUE 99: WEEK OF February 8, 2021 SUBSCRIBE | SREF.INFO | CONTACT

Recent News

Regional News Landowner Survey on Forestry Costs & Trends- Please Share AL NewsCenter Cites Bright Future for Forest Products Industry in AL Blue Ridge Fire Manager's Guide Save the Date- SESAF 2021 Annual Meeting- Virtual! National News USDA FS Urban Forestry Monitoring Protocols Guide State Foresters Join support letter to Biden Administration on Benefits of U&C Forestry Wooden satellites are in the Works SAF 2021 call for presentations USDA Extends General Signup for Conservation Reserve Program Webinars How to Talk about Southern Forests with the Public  Generational Succession Planning Webinar Engaging Youth in Natural Resources COVID-19 Impacts on Southeast Prescribed Fire Ecological Drought Webinar Series Ideas to Action 2021 Webinar- USFS Agreements Forest Management for Increasing Carbon Sequestration with Biochar Funding Opportunities USDA Funding for Rural Business Development Grant Program Sentinel Landscape Design call for Proposals  Job Opportunities Forest Inventory and Analysis National Program Lead, USDA FS Assistant District Forester, Tennessee Division of Forestry Forester II, South Carolina Forestry Commission

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Regional News

Landowner Survey on Forestry Costs & Trends- Please Share Alabama Cooperative Extension has launched a survey for forest landowners in the southern states (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA) to better understand the cost of current forestry practices and how management practices have changed. Results from this survey will be shared in a publication and will help to shape the way forestry practices are presented to stakeholders and influence policy decisions that affect landowners. Please share the survey with forest landowners in the southern region. The questionnaire will take about 45 minutes, but individuals can skip certain sections if they are not applicable to their forestland. To take the survey, click here. For questions about the survey, contact Dr. Adam Maggard, [email protected]. The survey will end March 31, 2021. AL NewsCenter Cites Bright Future for Forest Products Industry in AL The Alabama Newscenter published an article about the importance and future of the forest products industry in Alabama. The Forest Products Industry has added 10,000 jobs in Alabama and is expected to grow. In an interview with Gary Faulkner, the Forest Economic Development specialist for the Alabama Commission (AFC), he stated that the evolution of forest products has kept Alabama’s rich Forestry sector as one of the largest economic driving factors for the state. The ‘essential industry’ was able to sustain the sector even with the impacts of COVID-19. Alabama’s forest product industry is continuing to work hard and understand the needs for sustainable forests. To read the article, click here.

Blue Ridge Fire Manager's Guide The Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network supported the development of “The Fire Manger’s Guide to Blue Ridge Ecozones,” written by J. Adam Warwick and now available in pdf and printed versions. Adam Warwick is a Stewardship Manager with the Nature Conservancy in North Carolina. He developed this guide with the help and support of numerous colleagues from multiple organizations. The purpose of this publication is to provide fire information for specific areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as information on how to mitigate and manage wildfires in those areas. To download the PDF version of this guide book, click here. The guidebook also has a companion Fire and Wildlife Booklet. To download the booklet, click here. There are also companion fire management guides to the Southern Appalachians, which include the Southern Appalachian Fuels Photo Guide and Fire History of the Southern Appalachians.  Save the Date- SESAF 2021 Annual Meeting- Virtual! The Society of American Foresters (SESAF) is hosting its annual meeting virtually on March 24, 2021. The meeting’s theme is “Forest Management in Dynamic Markets.” Registration will be opening soon, and the meeting’s agenda includes presentations on market factors, timber market assessments, real estate and timber markets, carbon, developing forest products and more. Click here for more information.

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National News

USDA FS Urban Forestry Monitoring Protocols Guide The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has created a report that includes a series of detailed data collection protocols for urban forestry called “Urban Tree Monitoring: A Field Guide.” The purpose of the Field Guide is to help a range of possible users such as urban forest managers, researchers who collect longitudinal field data, interns, and even citizen foresters collect longitudinal field data on urban trees. The guide includes field crew identification, experience levels, tree record identifiers, location, site types, land use, crown vigor, and trunk diameter.  This guide was also created in conjunction with “Urban Tree Monitoring: A Resource Guide.” To learn more about the field guide, click here. To download the PDF version of the guide, click here.  State Foresters Join support letter to Biden Administration on Benefits of U&C Forestry The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and other supporters of urban and community forestry sent a letter to the Biden administration on their recommendations for improvements to urban and community forests. The purpose of the letter was to emphasize the importance of forests to combat climate change, create more jobs and expanding green jobs. Ensuring the right trees are planted in the appropriate place to improve our cities is key to improving tree equity for those living in urban areas. It is estimated that 90% of Americans will be living in urban areas by 2050, investing in urban forests can provide many benefits for future generations. NASF is working hard to ensure that there will forests will continually improve and be prepared to support future citizens. To read the article, click here.  Wooden satellites are in the Works Woodworking Network published an article about a Japanese logging company, Sumitomo Forestry, that is working with Kyoto University to develop the first satellites made from wood. The purpose of using wood to create satellites is to combat the worsening problem of space junk, because space junk can re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. A wooden satellite would burn up upon re-entry to the atmosphere without created raining debris or emitting dangerous chemicals. There are an estimated 6,000 satellites in orbit, and about 60% of them are no longer operational. Sumitomo Forestry hopes to have wooden satellites ready by 2023. To learn more about this wood innovation, click here.

SAF 2021 call for presentations The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is accepting submissions for the 2021 SAF National Convention in Sacramento, California from November 3- 7th. The theme of the convention will be, “Forests for All.” Abstract publications will be accepted for individuals, panels, organized sessions, pre-conference workshops, professional development seminars, science flashes, and posters. The themes of 2021 include technological shifts, policy and market dynamics, forest health and disturbances, sustainable and effective management, and social, demographic, and cultural changes. The deadline to submit presentations, seminars, panels and workshops will be March 31. And the deadline for sciences flashes and posters will be August 31. To learn more about the presentation criteria for the 2021 SAF National Convention, click here. USDA Extends General Signup for Conservation Reserve Program The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending their general sign-up period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP provides opportunities to address climate change by retiring cropland and restoring it to grasslands, wetlands, and forests. The program provides income to producers, improves water quality and supports wildlife habitat. In the past this program has not lived up to its potential, however, USDA hopes that by extending the sign-up period there will be more applications.  If you want to enroll for the first time or extend a contract on CRP that expires in September or just interested, contact your local USDA Service center. To learn more about the program, click here.

Webinars

How to Talk about Southern Forests with the Public  Learn more about how to talk about Southern forests with the public in this webinar hosted by Keeping Forests. In this presentation, speakers from New Bridge Strategy and Keeping Forests will share results from recent opinion research on the best way to talk about the issues facing southern forests with the public. This will also include a list of “dos and don’ts” for describing threats to southern forestland and solutions to those threats. The hosts will share research to better understand how to interact with the public in a way that will meet them at their level of understanding and will resonate. The webinar will be February 25 from 11 AM to 12 PM ET. advanced registration is not required. To learn more, click here.   Generational Succession Planning Webinar Speakers from three organizations will discuss “generational succession planning” in this seventh webinar (of 9) in a series funded by USDA’s National Institutes of Food and Agriculture’s Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) program. Find out more information here. The webinar will be held February 23rd at 1 pm ET. Engaging Youth in Natural Resources The 8th of 9 webinars in the series listed above will cover innovative ideas for engaging youth in natural resources. This webinar series includes a panel of three different Extension professionals discussing their programming for kids and natural resources. Join this webinar March 4th at 1 pm ET. Find more information about this webinar here. COVID-19 Impacts on Southeast Prescribed Fire Southern Fire Exchange, along with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, US Air Force Wildland Fire Branch, Florida Park Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service will present a webinar on the impacts of COVID-19 on prescribed fire and strategies to keep fire on the ground. The purpose of this two-part webinar is to discuss the measurable impacts of COVID-19 and strategies for mitigating those impacts. The first part of the webinar will have a presentation from a NASA research scientist, Ben Poulter and staff from the Tall Timbers Research Station identify and discuss changes in pattern and frequency of fire. The second webinar will include a discussion panel for experience, lessons and strategies for managing prescribed fire programs in the future. This one-and-a-half-hour webinar will be February 11 at 1 PM ET. To learn more, or register, click here.

Ecological Drought Webinar Series The National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA)’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Adaption Science Center launched a four-part webinar series to raise awareness about ecological drought. Presenters in this series cover resilience and mitigation of drought, as well as discussing research and management for planning and preparedness within the research community, tribal nations, and government agencies. The first webinar was Feb 3 and served as an introduction to ecological drought, with recent research from speakers. The next webinar will be Feb 17 from 1 PM to 2:15 PM ET. This webinar will focus on wildfires due to drought and recovery. To learn more about this webinar series, or register for the upcoming webinars, click here.  Ideas to Action 2021 Webinar- USFS Agreements This webinar series is based on the guidebook, “From Ideas to Action: A Guide to Funding and Authorities for Collaborative Restoration,” find the book here. The purpose of this webinar is to have practitioners share their experiences with developing and implementing Forest Service Agreements. This presentation will include information on how they incorporated local communities and built trust with partners. This webinar is for individuals that are familiar with the basics of Forest Services agreements but want to know more and build more tools for working within the framework of these agreements. The first webinar will be February 11 from 1:30 to 3 PM ET. To learn more, or register for the first in a webinar series, click here. Forest Management for Increasing Carbon Sequestration with Biochar The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is hosting a new webinar in the Biochar series. The purpose of the webinar is to discuss management approaches to using biochar to help with negative emissions technologies and to increase carbon sequestration and retention. Advanced registration is not required. This webinar will be held February 18 from 11 AM to 12 PM ET. To learn more, click here.

Funding Opportunities

USDA Funding for Rural Business Development Grant Program US Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks applications to support business development and create jobs in rural America, through its Rural Business Development Grant program.  Eligible applicants may include mechanisms to support business opportunity and enterprise projects in rural communities. Eligible entities are rural towns, communities, state agencies, authorities, nonprofits, federally-recognized tribes, institutes of higher education and cooperatives. The funding may be used to establish business support centers or to finance job training and leadership development in rural areas. Projects must be consistent with any local and area-wide community and economic development strategic plans, support other economic development activities in the project area, and be consistent with any Rural Development state strategic plan. Funding for enterprise projects must be used to finance or develop small and emerging businesses in rural areas. Eligible applicants for the set-aside funds must demonstrate that at least 75 percent of the benefits of an approved grant will assist beneficiaries in the designated areas. Applications must be submitted to the nearest USDA office by 4:30 p.m. local time on March 31, 2021. To learn more, click here.

Sentinel Landscape Design call for Proposals  The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that works to advance mutually beneficial land-use goals in project areas known as sentinel landscapes. A typical sentinel landscape is anchored by at least one military installation; encompasses agricultural and forestry lands; and would significantly benefit from natural resource restoration projects such as water quality and quantity improvement, disaster risk reduction, or wildlife habitat enhancement. Sentinel landscape designations lead to a myriad of benefits for local partnerships, including funding to hire a partnership coordinator and priority consideration for certain federal funding opportunities. All parties interested in applying for a sentinel landscape designation must complete a pre-proposal form and submit the document by 8:00 PM ET on March 29, 2021. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their pre-proposal within 60 business days of submission. Those applicants that submit the most promising pre-proposals will be invited to complete a full proposal. Applicants will then have at least 60 business days to write their full proposals. The partnership will announce final designations by December 2021. To learn more, click here.

Job Opportunities

Forest Inventory and Analysis National Program Lead, USDA FS Forest Service Research & Development anticipates advertising a position soon to provide national leadership to the Forest Inventory and Analysis program (https://www.fia.fs.fed.us/), which conducts the authoritative forest surveys for all ownerships of the United States. This position serves as a National Program Leader on the Inventory Monitoring and Assessment Research staff within the Office of the Deputy Chief for Research & Development in the Forest Service’s national headquarters. The incumbent is responsible for a broad range of leadership activities, including strategic national planning and program development. The incumbent is a recognized authority in design, collection, and interpretation of large scale forest or other treed lands inventory and monitoring data, or large scale statistical surveys such as FIA’s National Woodland Owner’s Survey or Timber Products Output, or in research in integrating statistical, geospatial, or other large-scale observational data from a variety of scales to produce authoritative estimates for land management investment decisions or policymaking, or equivalent.  See attachment.  For more information, contact Linda Heath, Director of Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Research, [email protected]. To learn more, click here.  Assistant District Forester, Tennessee Division of Forestry The Assistant District Forester (Programs) is primarily responsible for implementing the Division’s wildfire programs throughout the district. Additionally, this position assists district staff in the implementation of other Division programs such as forest health, water quality and forest management. The Assistant District Forester works under the direct supervision of the District Forester. Job duties include: Develops and initiates Annual District Fire Prevention Plans, maintains District’s fire and prevention caches, maintains availability roster of District resources for deployment (in/out-of-state), maintains readiness of personnel for response to wildfires through equipment inspections and maintaining qualifications records within IQS, coordinates District trainings to include IMT/IC trainings, oversees new hire and seasonal initial fire trainings (S-130, S-190), manages District’s Fire Suppression and Prevention Programs, oversees District’s fire dispatch and burn permit systems, develops Annual and Spring Fire Reports, administers District Work Capacity Tests, manages District’s Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP), Firefighter Personal, Property (FFP) and the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant (VFA) programs, maintains the Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) within the district. To learn more about this job, click here.

Forester II, South Carolina Forestry Commission Coordinates the implementation of the Urban Forestry Program and activities in the Coastal or Pee Dee region. Provides technical assistance to municipalities, counties, developers, non-profit organizations and other interested groups. Provides professional advice in protecting tree growth, aesthetic enhancement, and sediment control to planning groups such as Councils of Government, Chambers of Commerce, and municipal associations. Coordinates and conducts educational programs for the Coastal or Pee Dee region (e.g. Arbor Day Celebrations, Tree City USA presentations). Presents program information to interested groups such as planners, utility crews, conservation groups, garden clubs, etc. Produces and assists in development of educational material related to urban forestry. Secures and maintains files of technical information regarding urban and community forestry resources. Compiles information for reports related to program accomplishments (e.g. Community Accomplishment Reporting System, SCFC Annual Report). Assists the supervisor in urban grant projects helping ensure grant deliverables are met; provides assistance with assigned projects. Performs administrative duties to include, but not limited to, processing vehicle cost records, performing SCEIS time entries, reconciling credit card statements with receipts, etc. Ensures appropriate documents are submitted on time for processing. A bachelor's degree in forestry from a college or university accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and three (3) years of forestry experience. A master's degree in forestry from a college or university accredited by SAF can be substituted for one (1) year of experience. Must become a SC Registered Forester within six (6) months of employment. Must become a certified arborist within one (1) year of employment. To learn more about this job, click here.



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