Extension forestry specialists and public service faculty from the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources are delivering a lunchtime webinar series the second week of December. This series will cover a range of forestry and natural resource topics beginning with Intermediate Stand Management for Pines and Hardwoods, then delving into understory plants alongside traditional forestry. Additional webinars will cover invasive species including problems and solutions, as well as management recommendations for beneficial and pest insects. The series will wrap up with information on water quality best management practices and watershed management. Learn more about the series here. Find the first webinar here on forestrywebinars.net. The series will be daily at 12-1 pm ET from Monday December 7th to Friday December 11th.

A team of natural resource Extension professionals from across the country have organized a webinar series on critical issues of interest identified in strategic planning sessions for the Renewable Resources Extension Act administered through the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The sixth of this nine-webinar series, “Growing Community Science in Natural Resource Extension,” will be November 19th, 1 pm ET. The webinar is free with a few questions to register. To learn more for register for this webinar, click here. 

Pennsylvania State University Extension is offering a webinar for forest owners and land managers to introduce information about how forests store carbon as well as the current state of carbon markets, and opportunities for landowners in Pennsylvania. This webinar is for professionals and landowners interested in forest carbon; knowledge of this topic is not required. This is a 2-part series. The first is an “Introduction to Forest Carbon” where speakers will define what forest carbon means, how to manage it and carbon markets. The second webinar is titled “Q & A with the Nature Conservancy and the American Forest Foundation” where administrators and participants will have the opportunity to ask about carbon programs within these two organizations. In order to receive SAF credits there is a fee of $5, however it is free for general participants. The webinars are scheduled for Nov. 24^th and Dec. 15^th from 12 pm to 1 pm ET. To learn more or register, click here.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Research & Development is presenting five land-manager webinars in a series about fire and wildlife. The first webinar examines prescribed fire effects on bats. The second webinar relates to birds, biodiversity and fire in eastern forests. In the third webinar information about spotted owls and wildfires, while the fourth webinar focuses on mammals, birds and fire in western forests. The last webinar focuses on different types of smoke and smoke effects on multiple systems. This free webinar series will be daily, Nov 16^th to 20^th from 2 pm to 3 pm ET. To learn more or register, click here.

The Southern Fire Exchange (SFE) hosted a presentation about the significance of stabilizing long-term carbon while under extreme fire weather in the southeastern region. This recorded webinar will be available for viewing through the SFE website soon. The presenter, Dr. Louise Loudermilk of the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, discussed how frequently burned pine flatwoods are spatially mixed with hardwood-cypress swamps and that long-term management practices affect how these two systems respond to extreme fire weather. Future extreme fire weather may alter future forest conditions, and this presentation includes information on how to spatially improve prescribed fire and timber harvest to manage wildfire risks. This free, 1-hour webinar includes 1 CFE credit and was presented Nov 5^th at 1 pm ET. To learn more, click here.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has today announced the release of the 2021 request for proposals under the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund. NFWF adopted a ten-year business plan for the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley in 2019. The vision for this plan is to improve the capacity of the bottomland hardwood ecosystem to maintain robust and resilient populations of native species, while safeguarding clean water that flows through the Lower Mississippi Basin’s watersheds. The plan outlines goals for species found in and along the lower Mississippi River, including helping to restore, enhance or conserve 100,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest and wetlands. Special attention will be placed on the Louisiana Black Bear, waterfowl, forest birds, an array of fish species, and the swamp rabbit, an indicator species that benefits from more forest structure and disturbance. This request for proposals expects to award approximately $1.6 million in federal and private sector funding in support of projects that restore, enhance and maintain bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands and promote aquatic connectivity on private and public lands to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. All proposals must specifically address how projects will directly and measurably contribute to the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Business Plan goals. Full proposals are due Jan 14^th (2021) by 11:59 pm ET. To register for the applicant webinar Nov 19^th at 2 pm, click here. To learn more about the RFP, click here.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced that it is accepting pre-proposals for the 2021 Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program Challenge. The REPI challenge includes up to $15 million for land conservation or management activities that limits incompatible development, enhances military installation resilience, or relieves current or anticipated environmental restrictions at locations hosting key capabilities identified in the National Defense Strategy. Competitive proposals will demonstrate actions that improve military readiness and build a more lethal joint force by protecting investments to assets and platforms in support of one or more key capabilities listed in the Request for Proposals. Partners are strongly encouraged to coordinate closely with local installation or range staff to verify the presence of key National Defense Strategy capabilities prior to proposal development. The REPI Challenge seeks to engage the private sector to access and tap unconventional and high-leverage sources of funding, attract additional philanthropic support, and take advantage of market-based approaches to advance program goals. The Request for Proposals, downloadable PDF pre-proposal form, list of awards from the previous grant cycle, and other information are available on the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Community’s webpage. The deadline for pre-proposal submission is 8 p.m. EST, Monday, November 23, 2020. Up to $15 million is available for one or multiple awards. Final awards are planned to be announced in May or June of 2021.

The application period for FEMA’s fiscal year 2020 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants under the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) programs is now open. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO) system. All applications must be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 29, 2021. These two competitive grant programs provide states, local communities, tribes and territories funding for eligible mitigation activities to reduce the risks they face and the impact of future disasters. For FY20, a total of $660 million in funding is available for FMA and BRIC. FEMA will distribute up to $160 million through the FMA grant program, and a record-breaking $500 million of pre-disaster mitigation funding is available through the new BRIC program. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center are seeking an individual to contribute to and lead the development of a dynamic silviculture / forest ecology research program in Arkansas forest ecosystems and to educate the next generation of forest and land managers in the mid-south region. The tenure-track, 12-month position will carry the rank of assistant professor with an approximate appointment of 70% research and 30% teaching. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in or closely related to silviculture, ecological forestry, or ecosystem management. For information or to apply, click here.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture invite applications for the position of Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center. The Dean/Director provides vision and leadership for teaching, research, and Extension, and is responsible for planning, implementation and assessment of College and Center programs and development and management of budgets.  Additionally, the Dean/Director is responsible for developing and advancing cooperative relations with forestry and agriculture industries, natural resource agencies, nongovernmental organizations, constituent landowners and producers, other academic institutions, and public officials. The University seeks candidates having an earned doctorate in a discipline related to forestry, agriculture, or natural resources. Candidates should have an excellent record of teaching and scholarship that merits tenure as a full professor in one of the College’s disciplines. The position is available July 1, 2021.  Screening will begin on November 15, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled.  Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications. For information or to apply, click here. 

This is a non-tenure track 12-month position that will be 60% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), 40% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), and available in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. Duties will include developing a robust outreach (Extension) program aimed at forest landowners, forest products companies, and associated stakeholders in forest business/forest economics. Either a master's degree plus 10 years of relevant experience, or a doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in forest economics, forest business, or a closely related discipline. Significant experience with topics related to forest business, economics, forest markets, taxation, land appraisal, or related topics. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, forming and working in partnership with industry, agencies, and organizations. To apply, click here.

The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) at Oklahoma State University invites applications for a full-time, eleven-month, tenure-track position (75% Research and 25% Teaching) in fire modeling.  Application and/or development of models to understand fire behavior at multiple spatial scales is required.  Possible outcomes of research include improved management of fuels and smoke with prescribed fire, reduction of wildfire risk and mitigation of its effects to infrastructure, reduced impacts of smoke on human health, and improved ecosystem function. Requirements include a Ph.D. in natural resources or field related to fire modeling.  Candidate should have ability to apply model results to improve management of fuels and ecosystems and mitigate risk and impacts of wildfire. For information or to apply, click here.

This position serves as a Regional Forest Health Coordinator with additional duties and responsibilities based on knowledge and experience. In addition, this position is tasked with developing and implementing a strategic plan for forest health program delivery in the regions of Central and West Texas, which includes providing program leadership and technical assistance on regional forest health issues, establishing and maintaining relationships with key internal and external program partners and coordinating and supporting education and outreach programs related to forest health issues. For more information on this job opportunity, click here.

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources is advertising for a position to perform professional forestry and biological work at the expert level. Position serves as the agency's Staff Forester and administers the agency's Forest Management program and works in consultation with district game management staff and other DNR forestry staff on issues relating to forest/wildlife management projects on state's wildlife management areas. Work requires interpretation of scientific theory and principles, investigative methodology and operational procedures associated with forest and/or wildlife management practices. Coordinates with district wildlife personnel in preparation of timber/wildlife management plans, provides training, assistance and expertise in the design, development and monitoring of timber sales and oil and gas exploration activities on State wildlife management areas. Conducts timber appraisals on public lands as needed, serves in a leadership role in our prescribed fire program. Find out more here.