In this Conservation District Forester Spotlight, meet Ellie Johnson, the forester for Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau Conservation Districts in Michigan (located in the northwest region of Michigan’s lower peninsula). One district forester serves the tri-district area, over half of which is covered by forest. In fiscal year 2022 alone, the CD forester conducted 219 site visits covering 5,691 acres of woodlands. Two Michigan-specific programs landowners may learn about from the forester are the Qualified Forestry Program (QFP) and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Through QFP, landowners receive a tax exemption in exchange for managing their forests in a sustainable fashion. MAEAP offers landowners incentives and recognition for sustainable forestry. Looking to the future, the districts hope to expand forestry education and explore how to set up workshops to meet continuing education requirements for professionals.
Ellie has been in her role for a year and answered questions about her experience so far.
Question: If you traced your interest back to its roots, what triggered your passion for forestry?
Answer: I can’t think of a specific moment; I just remember when I was little I named the giant red maples on the farmstead where I grew up. I had this gut feeling they needed me as much as I needed them. I still carry that feeling.
Q: What’s most rewarding about being a conservation district (CD) forester?
A: Connecting with so many types of people. Whether it’s the conversations I have with landowners, the speakers I work with on educational programs, the academics I learn from at workshops, or the coworkers and community members I collaborate with every day — each connection is its own reward.
Check out NACD's webpage to read the full interview!
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FEEDBACK REQUESTED BY THE NORTHEAST-MIDWEST REGIONAL PRESCRIBED FIRE COUNCIL
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A regional group of the National Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils, providing information and resources in support of the prescribed fire councils in the 20 Northeast and Midwest states.
Since March of 2020, the Northeast-Midwest Regional Prescribed Fire Council Coordinating Group has worked to provide resources and begin building relationships to help put more good fire practices on the ground in the region. The group has held 6 Networking forums over the last 18 months with topics on liability and state statutes, mapping and monitoring, prescribed fire council management, learn and burn events, and education and outreach techniques regarding prescribed fire, and most recently, work in Florida and Illinois on PBA’s.
You can access the survey here, and all responses should be returned by January 20th.
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USDA NATIONAL AGROFORESTRY CENTER WEBINAR SERIES
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The USDA National Agroforestry Center is hosting a webinar series focused on agroforestry and its potential to address key issues facing farmers, landowners, and rural communities. Agroforestry, the practice of integrating trees with crops and/or livestock, is gaining increasing attention as a way to improve land use efficiency, biodiversity, and resilience to climate change.
The webinar series started in September and will continue through June, covering a wide range of topics related to agroforestry with a focus on USDA programs that support agroforestry. All sessions are recorded and can be accessed after the live webinar.
Registration for the February 3rd session can be found here.
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THE TRUE COST OF WILDFIRE: WESTERN FORESTRY LEADERSHIP COALITION REPORT
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The report highlights the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in the western U.S. driven by a variety of factors including a changing climate, drought, and increased human development in wildland-urban interface areas. In addition to the direct and indirect costs of wildfire, the report also outlines the ecological impacts of wildfire on western forests and the species that depend on them. Wildfires have significant determinantal outcomes to biodiversity and habitat and as well as impacts on soil productivity through erosion.
Given the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in the western U.S., the WFLC is calling for a comprehensive approach to wildfire management that includes both proactive measures to reduce the risk of wildfire and improve resilience, as well as investments in fire suppression and firefighting capabilities.
You can read the report here and learn more about the Western Forest Leadership Coalition on their website.
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FORESTRY NEWS & RESOURCES
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NRCS Forestry Conservation Practice Revision: Public Comment Period
NRCS regularly reviews and revises conservation practice standards to ensure they use the latest science. As part of this process, two forestry conservation practices-Tree/Shrub Establishment (612) and Forest Trails and Landings (655) were revised.
As part of the revision process, NRCS publishes the revised conservation practices in the Federal Register.
The deadline to submit comments through the Federal Register is January 18, 2023.
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USFWS Launches Center for Pollinator Conservation
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The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced the launch of the Center for Pollinator Conservation. The Center hopes to address the nationwide decline of pollinator species by contributing science, providing decision support, and coordinating and sharing best management practices with land managers. Pollinator species have been in a steep decline for many years, often due to climate charge, habitat loss, and pesticides.
The center will begin as a virtual collaborative space and will focus on three key themes: highlighting the importance of pollinators, understanding, and responding to threats, and coordinating action to reverse declines.
Click here to learn more.
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2022 NACD Community Wildfire Desk Guide
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As we move into the new year it's a good opportunity to remind our network and partners of the availability of the 2022 NACD Community Wildfire Desk Guide that was released last summer in partnership with the USDA Forest Service.
The free guide is available here.
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Add your conservation district's tree sale, state association meeting, field day or celebration to NACD's calendar!
Click the button above to submit an event. Events will be reviewed by the website administrator and published to NACD's online calendar when approved.
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