A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community
|
|
|
Happy New Year!
2020 has been a hard year for many, and we are hopeful that 2021 will bring good news and new opportunities.
We look forward to working with all of you to continue to advance the use of prescribed fire across the South!
|
|
|
Prescribed Fire Training Needs Survey Now Open
|
Partners across the South are conducting a survey to better understand prescribed fire training needs across the region.
|
|
2020 Prescribed Fire Use Report
|
The 2020 National Prescribed Fire Use Report has been released. The report is a product of the National Association of State Foresters and the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils, who have produced it every three years since 2011. Moving forward, data will be collected more frequently than the previous three year interval to more accurately track trends in data.
Highlights from the report include:
- The Southeast burned 6.3 million acres in 2018 and 5.9 million in 2019, an 8% decrease from 2011
- 38% of Southern states reported an increase in burned acres in 2019 compared to historical averages
|
Louisiana Updating Prescribed Burn Contractors Updates
|
Louisiana is updating the state list of prescribed burn contractors. Those with changes or additions to the 2020 list should contact Keith Hawkins at 337-463-7006 or khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu.
|
|
Several new podcasts have been released that address topics related to prescribed fire in the Southeast:
-
Friends of Fire is a podcast from the Southern Fire Exchange. Each episode features an interview with both a researcher and practitioner.
-
Fire Ecology Chats is a podcast series from the Association for Fire Ecology.
|
|
|
The Tennessee Division of Forestry has launched a Wildfire Public Viewer. It provides up-to-date information on wildfires across the state and aids Tennessee’s wildfire prevention and suppression efforts.
|
|
Southeast Prescribed Fire Update Offers New Resources
|
Those with a resource to add to the page can contact Laurel Kays at lekays@ncsu.edu.
|
Prescribed Burn Association Webinar Recording
|
A recording is now available of the Prescribed Burn Associations: Different Models for Different Spaces webinar hosted by the Western Region of the Wildlife Fire Leadership Council in December.
|
|
Several new publications and news articles have been released concerning smoke and wildland fire:
|
|
|
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute has created a storymap about longleaf pine in Texas, including its connection to the historic presence of fire on the landscape.
|
|
The Nature Conservancy's Resilient Land Mapping Tool showcases a variety of data, including connected networks of resilient sites which could help sustain biodiversity if conserved.
|
|
|
Fire Science Exchange Network News
|
The Joint Fire Science Program Fire Science Exchange Network celebrated its 10 year anniversary in 2020. A series of infographics was created to celebrate the network's accomplishments.
The FSEN includes the Southern Fire Exchange, Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, Great Plains Fire Science Exchange, and Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium.
|
The Southern Fire Exchange has released two new resources:
|
|
The International Association of Wildland Fire has several opportunities and resources available:
|
|
Prescribed Fire News Roundup
|
|
USDA Forest Service Cohesive Fire Strategy RFP
Cohesive Fire Strategy grants help State Forestry Agencies achieve the wildfire risk reduction and wildfire response priorities of State Forest Action Plans. Three types of grants are available to States and local partners: Cross‐Boundary Wildfire Hazard Mitigation on Non‐Federal Lands, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Wildfire Response. All applications are due close of business January 15, 2021.
Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund 2021 Request for Proposals
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is accepting proposals for the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund. Projects may focus on restoring, enhancing and maintaining bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands and promoting aquatic connectivity on private and public lands to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. Proposals are due by January 14 at 11:59 PM ET.
Enviva Forest Conservation Fund Request for Proposals
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is accepting proposals for the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund. Grants will be given to protect bottomland hardwood and other wetland forests in eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia. The deadline for proposals is January 29.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund 2021 Request for Proposals
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is accepting proposals for the 2021 Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund. Projects may focus on expanding and enhancing longleaf pine ecosystem restoration and management across longleaf pine’s historical range, as well as on the restoration and enhancement of bottomland hardwood forests within priority focal areas. An applicant webinar was recorded on Wednesday, December 2, and proposals are due by Thursday, February 4 at 11:59 PM ET.
Association for Fire Ecology Funding Opportunities
The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) has two ongoing funding opportunities:
-
Wayne Harrison Memorial Scholarship - Students may apply for up to $2,500, with funding available annually. Applications are due each year by March 31, with awards announced by May 31.
-
Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) TREE Grants - Designed to help graduate students travel to present at conferences and workshops related to fire science and management, applications are due 60 days before the conference or workshop.
|
|
All jobs are open as of the Driptorch Digest send date, however application reviews may have begun.
Job Boards
|
|
Upcoming Events & Webinars
|
Prescribed Fire Council Meetings
-
August 18-19, 2021 - 2021 North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Meeting, Morganton, NC
Prescribed Burner Certification Courses
Webinars (All Times Eastern)
Conferences, Workshops, Festivals, and Other Events
-
January 4-16 - Tennessee and Kentucky Fire Academy
-
January 25 - Adaptation Planning and Practices Training, Virtual
-
January 26 - Longleaf Partnership Council Meeting, Virtual
-
January 28 - National Extension Wildland Fire Initiative Quarterly Meeting, Virtual
-
January 28 - S-131, Virtual
-
February 2-4 - Burning Issues Workshop, Virtual
-
February 17 - NC Longleaf Coalition Meeting, Virtual
-
March 16-18 - 21st Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, Virtual
-
April 8-9 - Climate Change: Impacts and Responses, Vancouver, Canada
-
April 14-16 - Texas Land Conservation Conference, Virtual
-
May 23-26 - Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals Conference, Virtual
-
May 24-27 - Wildland Fire Safety Summit & Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference, Virtual
-
May 2021 - Southern Blue Ridge FLN Meeting, Dillard, GA
-
June 7-10 - Southern Group of State Foresters Annual Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK
-
June 22-25 - NFPA Conference and Expo, Las Vegas, NV
-
July 19-22 - Southern Area RT-300, Chattanooga, TN
-
September 21-23 - Great Plains Fire Summit, North Platte, NE
-
September 26-30 - Extension & Knowledge Exchange Conference, Asheville, NC
-
October 4-8 - National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, Asheville, NC
-
October 12-15 - Fire Ecology Across Boundaries, Florence, Italy
-
October 25-November 5 - Southern Blue Ridge TREX
-
October 25-28, 2022 - Biennial Longleaf Conference, Wilmington, NC
|
|
Prescribed Fire Resources
|
Do you want to learn more about prescribed fire? We've compiled an extensive list of resources that can help you explore the world of prescribed fire. On our resources page you can explore fire-related publications, videos, podcasts and webinars. You can access these resources on our web page, and if there's something we should add please reach out and let us know!
|
|
Contact us to share your prescribed fire information, stories, or events!
Jennifer Fawcett
NC State Extension Forestry
Extension Associate
SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Working Group Coordinator
919-515-8288
Laurel Kays
NC State Extension Forestry
Extension Assistant
919-513-2573
Additional content and resources can also be found by visiting our website and by following us on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|