The 2020 Natural Areas (Virtual) Conference offers you opportunities to view presentations, participate in discussions, and network at your own pace through an extended conference experience. Beginning October 1, conference participants can view and comment on recorded presentations and posters, explore exhibitor space, and connect with colleagues through our virtual conference platform. Conference week will include plenary presentations; symposia; a poster session; moderated, live discussions and topical forums. The conference will extend beyond the regular conference week, through November 3, with live, in-depth symposia that will include both expert presentations and moderated, interactive discussions.
Of special interest: check out this special session:
Fire Restoration and Consequences for Ecosystem Management (Live Stream Symposium at the Natural Areas Association Conference)
9 AM – 12:30 PM on Tuesday November 3rd, 2020
CEU Credit: 3.5
In the western United States and in many other fire-adapted landscapes, decades of fire suppression policies have left forests out of equilibrium with natural fire regimes. Reintroducing fire to these landscapes under controlled conditions offers a path to restoring affected ecosystems and to achieving a variety of ecological, conservation, land management and risk abatement objectives. This symposium will specifically address the use of prescribed fire within or bordering public lands and protected areas, and how these and related management actions can be leveraged for multiple benefits. Speakers will describe how they integrate mixed-or limited-severity burn objectives, fuels reduction, timber management, habitat protection and other goals into burn plans. They will also discuss how they control for the vagaries of conditions that add risk and uncertainty to their ability to burn. Additionally, in the panel discussion, speakers and participants will talk about navigating the constraints of weather, smoke, personnel shortages, and narrow burn windows, as well as how to deal with out-of-control burns, damage control and public relations. Finally, participants will be encouraged to share ideas on the use of creative approaches and collaborations with communities, NGOs, the private sector and multiple land management agencies to improve the probability of executing a successful burn. This symposium will focus on how fire can be reintroduced to fireadapted landscapes in the form of prescribed burns to achieve a variety of ecological, conservation, land management and risk abatement objectives. Talks may span agency, academic, and other land management perspectives, as well as the application of fire across a range of forest types. Speakers will be encouraged to give real-life examples of how prescribed fire and other fuel mitigation activities can be used to meet multiple objectives while limiting risk and minimizing disturbance to and complaints from the inhabitants of surrounding areas.
This symposium qualifies for 3.5 Category 1 CFE credits for the Society of American Foresters.
View PDF of presentation abstracts >
Access via the Natural Areas Conference, Payment for registration is required
