UKY Releases new KY BMP Practices with New Additions on Water Quality

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service recently went through a revision of their publication, Kentucky Logging BMP Field Guide. This detailed field guide to the minimum requirements for logging Best Management Practices (BMP) in Kentucky has revisions that pertain to water quality law, and is now in full color with lots of pictures and diagrams to help those on the ground in making decisions. Sections in the guide include information on sources and types of water pollution, Kentucky’s BMP minimum requirements, BMP measurements, logging inspections and enforcement Planning, streams and channels, sinkholes, wetlands, haul roads, trails, and landings—construction, use and maintenance, and more. Find a complete copy of the guide here . This publication was supported with funds from USDA-NIFA Renewable Resources Extension Act and the US Environmental Protection Agency, 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program through the Kentucky Division of Water. 

Factsheet on Introduction to Forest Certification Published

North Carolina State University Extension has just recently updated and published a ‘Woodland Owner Note’ factsheet on an introduction to forest certification. Forest certification is a globally implemented, voluntary program to ensure that forest products originate from certified land that is managed with a goal of sustainability. This factsheet presents a basic overview of forest certification, different certification systems, the process of certification, and emerging concepts in forest certification. Topics covered include the cost of certification, the various types of certification and various programs, emerging concepts in forest certification, and more. Find the complete publication here . 

Clemson Extension and the Longleaf Alliance Offering Longleaf Webinar

The Clemson Extension Forestry & Natural Resources, in Partnership with the Longleaf Alliance, is offering a 2-part webinar series on July 21 and 28, 2020 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. live via Zoom, with recordings will be available following the conclusion of the webinars. Session 1 will focus on longleaf flora and fauna diversity, teaching the functional importance of native plants and animals in the longleaf ecosystem. Session 2 will focus on promoting native species through management, teaching how to modify and implement practices such as the application of herbicides and the use of prescribed fire can enhance longleaf stands. To register please visit here. The cost of the webinar is free if no credits are obtained, and $20 if you wish to earn credits. This webinar series has been approved for 2 hours of Cat. 1 CFE credits with SC Pesticide Recertification credits applied for. For more information, contact Janet Steele at (803) 534-6280 or at [email protected], or click here to view the flyer.

Pine Resiliency Hurricane Guide

The USDA Southeast Climate Hub, along other USDA agencies and university Extension experts, has prepared a state hurricane preparation and recovery commodity guide for 8 southeastern states to help producers remain resilient and productive in the face of this threat and to help prepare for and recover from hurricane events. The Southeastern United States is unfortunately familiar with the devastation and loss of life and property that can accompany a hurricane event. While hurricanes have always been a threat to the Southeast, with an average of over two strikes per year since 1900, the threat posed by hurricanes is growing. Recent studies suggest that as ocean temperatures continue to rise, hurricane intensity is increasing. Hurricanes of the future will likely be slower-moving, higher category hurricanes that produce destructive winds and flooding. Find the webpage here with links to each state. 

Historical Trends and Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the NC Logging industry

NC State University Extension has recently published a document covering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the North Carolina logging industry, with survey results provided by the Carolina Loggers Association. The article examines the recent trends of the logging industry in North Carolina in terms of the number of companies, employment and economic contribution and, based on the survey conducted by the Carolina Loggers Association in late May 2020, also presents the estimated economic losses faced by the North Carolina logging industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered also include recent trends in the North Carolina logging industry, annual timber harvests and timber prices in North Carolina, the economic contribution of the North Carolina logging industry. Find the full document here . 

Mississippi Enacts Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act

Mississippi Enacts Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA) into law, which helps protect the transfer of wealth between generations of families who use a simple will or die without a will. This law has been championed in many states by forestry advocates, because millions of acres of forestland in the South are deemed heirs’ property land, and laws such as this, help these families to retain this land. The provisions within the UPHPA, championed by social justice and housing advocates, promise to help diminish systemic inequities. In a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the prevalence of heirs’ property is disproportionately high among low-income households, as well as racial and ethnic minority groups. More than half of all adults, and three-fourths of non-white adults—do not have wills, meaning the UHPHA will benefit many Mississippians who have historically been left behind. Read more about this here . 

Southern Region-Program Leaders Network Offered 2020 Virtual Summer School

The National Association of Extension Program & Staff Development Professional & the Southern Region-Program Leaders Network Program & Staff Development Committee, along with Mississippi State University jointly hosted the 2020 Virtual Summer School, July 13th-17th. The theme for this year’s “Extension Programming for Everyone through the lens of Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI)” focused on how to make DEI a component of programs from planning to evaluation. The week ended with program planning and ended with program evaluation. Session 1 covered program planning processes designed to increase access and grow programs, session 2 covered Extension professionals as they reflect on their implicit bias, identify ethical principles that respect the traditions and assets of community members, session 3 covered a proactive approach to inclusion of individuals with disabilities into programs. Session 4 covered negotiation and diversity among individuals, groups, & communities to capitalize on behavioral tendencies, and session 5 covered how diversity, equity, and inclusion issues intersect with Extension evaluation. Click here to access a document with complete listings and registration links for all the sessions. Any questions regarding the sessions can be directed towards Diane Mashburn at [email protected] .

VA Launches Urban Forestry Newsletter

In late April, the Virginia Urban Wood Group published the first edition of the VA Urban Wood e-Newsletter, which will be distributed every other month and features urban wood and small woodlot management news complete with links to expanded stories. Also included are updates from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Urban Wood program. This newsletter serves a wide-ranging audience from those who live in municipalities to the thousands of Virginia woodland landowners who own small parcels of forest land. Find the April 24 edition here, and ​ to subscribe to the VA Urban Wood Newsletter please contact: [email protected].

VA Hosts Virtual Generation Next program

The Virginia Tech University Extension is hosting a virtual version of “Preparing for Generation NEXT,” an award-winning nationally recognized educational workshop that provides free legal guidance and landowner stories about successful estate planning steps and strategies they have used. The 2021 Virtual Preparing for Generation NEXT Workshop will be held on 

September 16, 17, 23, and 24, 2020 from 3-4:30 p.m. Speakers include legal and financial experts experienced in estate planning as well as natural resource professionals and landowners. The workshop covers Nine Steps to Successful Legacy Planning: Commit to beginning the legacy planning and keep moving forward; Determine your family assets; Write down long-term goals for your land; Hold a family meeting; Gather/create essential documents; Establish your legacy planning team; Explore the legal, financial, and conservation tools available to help you meet your goals; Provide opportunities for your family to learn about and enjoy your woodlands; and Revisit your plan on a regular basis and adapt as your land, assets and family change. This workshop will be held on ZOOM, and registration fee is $40/family and includes the brand new ‘Legacy Planning for Virginia Landowners’ guide. Registration will open mid-July, please visit here to find out more. 

Invasive Species Terminology Standardized in new Journal Article from UF

University of Florida (UF) Forestry Professors have released a new journal article exploring the excessive number of terms associated with invasive species. Often these tersm are used incorrectly too, which can hinder stakeholder education about the threats of invasive species. Despite Extension stakeholders' prioritizing learning about invasive species, there is still a need to expand awareness about the environmental and economic costs of invasive species. Effective communication, which hinges on consistent and proper terminology, can advance these efforts. Seven terms are applicable across invasive taxa, understandable, typically interpreted correctly, and useful for describing most situations regarding invasive species. Those terms are native, nonnative, introduced, established, invasive, nuisance, and range change. The article also lists six terms to avoid as they create confusion via their misuse and misinterpretation. The terms they propose will increase understanding, thereby promoting behavior changes aimed at limiting the negative impacts of invasive species. Find the article here . 

UT’s 10-year Statewide Extension Strategic Planning Process Detailed in JOE Article

In 2010, University of Tennessee Extension conducted a strategic planning effort focused on the subsequent 10 years. The planning process was conducted by 22 employees who comprised the strategic planning leadership team which collected and analyzed data to inform the strategic plan. The process involved approximately 3,000 Tennesseans in online surveys, area meetings, opinion polling, and focus group sessions. This article describes the process, tools, and outcomes—which included a comprehensive strategic plan. Yet the strategic planning process itself produced unintended outcomes, specifically professional development opportunities, greater awareness of Extension among state government stakeholders, and continuity in the pursuit of strategic goals despite administrative change. The major implication for Cooperative Extension organizations is that attention to the potential of these unintended outcomes can enhance strategic planning. Find the full article here . 

Forest Health Diagnostics Facebook Page’s Evaluation Detailed in JOE Article

The Southern Forest and Tree Health Diagnostics Facebook page managed by Extension and forestry professionals was designed to deliver forest and tree heath information to the public via a web-based, crowdsourced diagnostic service. Numerous articles have been written which focus on the importance of adapting our Extension forestry programs to stakeholders’ evolving preferences. Furthermore, being creative in the use of technology and different modes of communication is important. Leaders of this page conducted an online survey to quantify the page's impact by identifying audience demographics, engagement levels, and perceptions of the page's value. Results indicated that stakeholders consider the Southern Forest and Tree Health Diagnostics page to be an effective diagnostics service and a valuable educational tool. This model could be used in other natural resources program areas to increase the reach of Extension professionals. Find the article here . 

LSU Releases Article on Prescribed Burn Training in 2020

The LSU AgCenter has released a new article detailing their recent 2020 Prescribed Burn Workshop and the new practices implemented due to the unexpected requirements of COVID-19. The host of this training, the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center (LEAF Center), arranged for wider spacing of student seating and for plenty of hand sanitizer. The rules for spacing required fewer students to attend, as normally dozens of students would have participated in this training. Classroom topics included: reasons for controlled fire, fuels, burning techniques, proper tools, optimal weather conditions, smoke management, liability management, planning, fire behavior and more, and this training will begin the process of becoming LA Certified Burn Manager. The centerpiece of the classroom segment of the training was the preparation of the burn plan, a vital document for liability protection. The plan also included the steps for effective smoke management. Find the full article here . 

Tall Timbers Research Center Releases its Summer 2020 eJournal

Tall Timbers Research Center has released its Summer 2020 issue of the eJournal, 

Tall Timbers' biannual digital magazine. The publication features many story topics such as the Sundial Lupine and its pollinators; fire history from longleaf stumps; recovery of Bobwhite populations and more. Find a copy of the eJournal here . Tall Timbers describes its mission as fostering exemplary land stewardship through research, conservation and education, and is recognized as the home of the study of fire ecology and is an advocate to protect the right to use prescribed fire for land management, as well as one of the nation’s leading land trusts.

USFS FIA Releases New State Factsheets 

The US Forest Service’s Forest Inventory Analysis Unit (FIA) has automated development of their annual factsheets for the reporting of the status and trends of State forest resources. This resource also features sets of annual supplemental tables to support the annual factsheets, as well as factsheets for the reporting of timber product output data and sets of supplemental tables to support the timber product output factsheets. The FIA integrates the reporting of products from the National Woodland Owner Survey when building their data. Currently, all the factsheets can be accessed by the ‘One Click’ and ‘One Click TPO’ applications, which provide a web-based platform for obtaining State-level FIA summaries for select forest and forest industry attributes in an easy-to-read factsheet. Each fact sheet contains links to resources from across the FIA program such as results and publications from the National Woodland Owner Survey and links to supplemental tables that accompany each factsheet. Find the full array of factsheets here . 

Tour of Interactive Climate Maps & Tools in Recorded Webinar 

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) released a new webinar with Climate Central providing a tour of some of their new and improved interactive climate maps and tools. These tools help to communicate about sea level rise, coastal flooding, climate pollution scenarios, and more. Viewers will learn about tools that can help them understand what land is at risk from sea level rise, tides, and storm surge; quantify coastal flood risk to portfolios of assets such as businesses or schools; see daily local wind and solar energy generation, based on actual local installed capacity and current weather; and get a sneak preview of Climate Central’s soon-to-launch system for providing highly localized information alerts to key stakeholders on a just-in-time basis on a variety of local climate events and impacts, including coastal flooding. Find the full webinar here . The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. 

USDA Webinar: Mapping Forest Disturbances

The USDA Southern Research Station is hosting a new set of 30-minute webinars, Science in Practice, which summarize recent research with a focus on practical take-aways for land managers and practitioners. The next upcoming session, Viva la révolution: Mapping forest disturbances with precision with Steve Norman, will take place on July 20, 2020 from 12-12:30 EDT. Another session, Fantastic Flying Mammals: A synthesis of forest management effects on bats, hosted by Susan Loeb, will take place on July 29, 2020, from 12-12:30 EDT. To join either of these upcoming sessions, please visit here on Adobe Connect to sign-in. Click here to view more information about these sessions. More sessions are scheduled to take place in August and September.

Rural Development Innovation Group Achieves Successes During First Four Years

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) is recognizing the successful first phase of the Rural Development Innovation Group (RDIG), a voluntary collective of development practitioners, intermediates, and other organizations committed to advancing rural community and economic development. RDIG was initiated in 2016 to demonstrate successful and innovative rural economic development strategies, provide peer advice among organizations, and identify national trends and emerging opportunities to support sector-based strategies. In just a few short years, RDIG has undertaken several successful initiatives:

The America’s Rural Opportunity (ARO) series, which highlights innovation and on-the-ground practitioners from rural places who are successfully addressing important facets of rural economic development, and a Critical Rural Development Program framework that reviewed and provided suggested improvements to a dozen USDA RD programs – and held a briefing for Congressional staff in 2017. Read more here about the goals and achievements of RDIG. 

AFF Releases its Summer Magazine

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) has released its 2020 summer edition of Woodland Magazine, which brings stories from around the nation featuring dedicated people working to protect their forestland and the benefits they provide. In this edition, readers can learn more about how the recent pandemic has affected the forest industry and about how AFF is working with landowners and partners to protect important species, such as longleaf pine and white oak. Other stories featured in this edition include: Forestry Amid a Pandemic; National Treasure: The Return of Longleaf; White Oak in the Buckeye State; and Amazon Makes Major Investment in Family Forests. Find the full copy of the magazine here . 

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