This annual wildland fire workshop is designed to enable land managers, researchers, resource specialists, and fire practitioners an opportunity to hear and learn from different areas of expertise in a format which will help us to identify gaps in knowledge and communication, and work toward solutions to issues that complicate our collective wildland fire work.
General Agenda:
Over the two days we will explore topic areas that are relevant across the State of Michigan and the Upper Midwest, and have interactive opportunities such as panel discussions and a world café. These discussions and sessions are planned with and for the diverse community interacting around fire-related issues, and seek to build the understanding and communication to support further work toward collaborative solutions.
The four topic areas we will cover over the 2-day workshop include:
1. Managing for Wildlife in Fire-dependent Ecosystems
- Presenters and Panel include: Dr. Gary Roloff (Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University), Dr. John Shuey (Director of Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Field Office), and Tracy Melvin (Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University)
2. Managing Oak Ecosystems with Fire
- Overview Presentation on Managing Oak Ecosystems with Fire in the Eastern U.S. by Daniel C. Dey, PhD, Research Forester, Project Leader, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station
- Panel Discussion on the MI DNR’s approach to Oaks and Fire Management by Jesse Bramer, Mark Sargent, and Paul Rogers
3. Managing Fire-Dependent Systems with Invasive Species Considerations
- Presenters and Panel include Dr. Jessica Miesel (Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University) and Glenn Palmgren (MI Department of Natural Resources)
4. Managing a Burn Program: Exploring the risks, barriers, and opportunities in developing and sustaining a burn program
- Presenters and Panel include Brian Schaffler (Fuels Management Specialist, Fuels Program, USDA Forest Service, Eastern Regional Office) and Trent Wickman (Air Resource Specialist – MN,WI,MI, USDA Forest Service, Eastern Regional Office)
- World Café interactive session
Working Detailed Agenda as of December 13, 2017
February 6
9:00-10:00 am ARRIVAL AND CHECK-IN
10:00-10:30 am Welcome; Overview of past Burning Issues and goals for 2018 Workshop; Update on Michigan Prescribed Fire Council and the “Passing of the Torch” to the new Chair
10:30 am-12:00 pm Presentations and Panel Discussion:
Managing a Burn Program: Exploring the risks, barriers, and opportunities in developing and sustaining a burn program
12:00-1:00 pm LUNCH
1:00-2:30 pm World Café Session for Managing a Burn Program
2:30-3:00 pm SNACK BREAK
3:00-4:30 pm Presentations and Panel Discussion:
Managing for Wildlife in Fire-dependent Ecosystems
4:00-4:30 pm Day One Wrap Up
4:30-6:00 pm Michigan Prescribed Fire Council HAPPY HOUR
February 7
8:45-9:00 am Welcome back
9:00-10:00 am Overview Presentation Managing Oak Ecosystems with Fire in the Eastern U.S.
10:00-10:30 am SNACK BREAK
10:30 am-12:00 pm Panel Discussion: MI DNR’s approach to Oaks and Fire Management
12:00-1:00 pm LUNCH
1:00-3:00 pm Presentations and Panel Discussion:
Managing Fire-Dependent Systems with Invasive Species Considerations
3:00-3:30 pm WORKSHOP WRAP-UP
NOTE: For Federal Employees, this Workshop falls under the definition of a training, which means no meetings management is necessary. Attendees will simply need approval from a supervisor/budget manager to pay the registration fee. Please see the Burning Issues webpage which has the excerpt defining training.
Registration: Thanks to Fort Custer Training Center (FCTC) we are able to keep costs low with a reasonable registration fee (includes lunch, snacks and coffee both days): Regular registration is $65 and a Reduced Rate registration for students/volunteers/private landowners is $35. Please contact Jack McGowan-Stinski to get the reduced rate Promo code; reduced rate is limited quantity.
Registration Link: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vhr65vnab&oeidk=a07eefqwvvcafa62e8a
Lodging: Available at FCTC at a maximum rate of $50/night. Other lodging options are located in Kalamazoo, MI. Note: Rooms at FCTC are semi-private; a single twin bed with a shared bathroom (toilet and shower) with one adjacent room. Call 269.731.6126 to reserve your lodging.
Please visit this link for more information.