Fifth Annual Burning Issues Workshop and Michigan Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting
"Decision-making for Fire-dependent Systems"
This annual wildland fire workshop is designed to enable land managers, researchers, resource specialists, biologists, ecologists and fire practitioners an opportunity to hear and learn from different areas of expertise in a format designed to identify gaps in knowledge and communication, and work toward solutions to issues that complicate our collective wildland fire work.
When: February 5 & 6, 2019
Where: Fort Custer National Training Center (FCTC), 1109 Denso Rd, Battle Creek, MI 49037 (42.329729, -85.287916)
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 Paul Mayer to get the reduced rate promo code; reduced rate is limited quantity so act fast!
Registration Link: Click here!
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. Rooms can be reserved by calling 269.731.6126.
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 like panel discussions. 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.
IMPORTANT: Due to the government shutdown, multiple speakers are now unable to attend the workshop. In light of this, we have had to condense our workshop, which means a slightly revised agenda. Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this difficulty.
Topic areas anticipated over the 2-day workshop:
(see below for full time-frame of workshop)
Decision-making for Fire-dependent Systems
Presenters and Panel:
Prescribed Fire Needs Assessment for Southern Michigan – Josh Cohen, Michigan DNR
Manipulating soil heating patterns to optimize pine barrens restoration – Jessica Miesel, Michigan State University
Monitoring fire effects to refine burn prescriptions and plans – Michele Richards, Fort Custer National Training Center
Cultural and Social Decision-making for Wildland Fire Management
Presenters and Panel:
Social considerations for wildland fire management: Why should I care what people think? – Eric Toman, PhD, Ohio State University
Oak regeneration as a social process: agent-based models of public land managers in southern Michigan – Chris Hoving, Michigan DNR
Twenty Years of MPFC – Strategic Focus for the future…strategic planning session
Discussion and refinement of our current business plan
Full Timeframe of Workshop:
If you have any questions, please contact Paul Mayer at neomayer@gmail.com or by phone at 248-760-5939.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
SPECIAL NOTE: For USDA Forest Service Employees, this Workshop has already been approved for FY19 Meeting Management (i.e. Attendees Estimated Cost Detail, FS Conference Plan Number 190136, “Burning Issues Workshop”). Contact your local Meeting Management representative to confirm details.
Organizers and Planning Team:
Michele Richards – Michigan National Guard and MI RX Fire Council
Craig Maier – Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium
Jack McGowan-Stinski – Lake States Fire Science Consortium and MI RX Fire Council
Ryan Koziatek – Kalamazoo Nature Center and MI RX Fire Council
Lee Osterland – Michigan DNR and MI RX Fire Council
Paul Charland – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dave Borneman – Natural Area Preservation (NAP) Manager City of Ann Arbor and MI RX Fire Council
Dan Zay – Natural Resources Conservation Service and MI RX Fire Council
The 2019 Burning Issues Workshop is hosted and sponsored by: Michigan National Guard, Michigan Prescribed Fire Council, the Lake States Fire Science Consortium, and the Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium.
