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The Program Committee is pleased to announce the 20th annual USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species.
The USDA Interagency Research Forum on Invasive Species will be held January 13-16, 2009, at the Loews Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis, MD. General topics for the forum include: Invasive Plants and Their Impacts, Gypsy Moth Research, Risk Assessment for Invasive Species, Exotic Wood Boring Insects, Biological Control, Alien Forest Pathogens, and International Forest Insects and Disease Reports. Visit the meeting website for more information.
The AGU Fall Meeting provides an opportunity for researchers, teachers, students, and consultants to present and review the latest issues affecting the Earth, the planets, and their environments in space.
The Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union was held December 15-19, 2008, in San Francisco, CA. The meeting covered topics in all areas of Earth and space sciences, and was expected to draw a crowd of over 15,000 geophysicists from around the world. Much more information is available on the AGU Fall Meeting website.
An invasive species conference was co-sponsored by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Associate Dean for Research, the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, the Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment, and the UK College of Agriculture Invasive Species Working Group.
The Invasive Species Conference was held Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 in Lexington, Kentucky. The purpose of the conference was to demonstrate a sense of urgency regarding the threats posed by the most significant invasive species in Kentucky and to propose and share possible solutions. This conference helped to create linkages within and across organizations to capitalize on funding, research, and applied opportunities.
Please visit the conference website for additional information, or contact Laura Lhotka at laura.lhotka@uky.edu or (859) 257-8718.
The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) held the 9th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment to help in developing and advancing science-based solutions to the biodiversity crisis.
The conference theme, Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World, was an opportunity for dialogue with leading scientists, policy makers, government, civil society, industry leaders, educators, and other solutions-oriented innovators to develop a new biodiversity conservation strategy. The three-day conference took place December 8-10, 2008, centered at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. Visit the NCSE conference website for additional details.
Since 1900, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) has provided access to information and networking opportunities to prepare members for the challenges and the changes that face natural resource professionals.
The 2008 Society of American Foresters National Convention, themed "Forestry in a Climate of Change," was held November 5-9 in Reno-Tahoe, NV. Visit the SAF Convention website for more information.
Dr. Steven McNulty, research ecologist and team leader of EFETAC's Southern Global Change Program, spoke about environmental stress at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.
Dr. McNulty gives numerous presentations on the vulnerability of Southeast watersheds to climate change. River basins are globally unique and ecologically important, and are vital sources of clean water. His assessment comes at a time when portions of the region are experiencing severe drought conditions for the second consecutive year.
Dr. McNulty spoke at the Mountain Heritage Center Auditorium on the WCU Campus on Saturday, October 25, 2008. The environmental stress of large developments on the unique and fragile forest ecosystems and watersheds was discussed. A question and answer period followed.
The event, free to the public, was sponsored by United Neighbors of Tuckasegee. For additional information, contact Mary Jo Cobb at (828) 293-0539.
The North Carolina Tree Farm Program serves as one of the landowner outreach vehicles of many Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) member companies.
The North Carolina Tree Farm Committee hosted six landowner workshops in 2008. The workshops were free and open to all forest landowners interested in learning more about how they can effectively manage their forests for multiple uses. Visit the NC Tree Farm website to learn more about the Program and the workshops.
The USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program holds an annual symposium.
The 2008 FIA Symposium emphasized innovative uses of FIA data that shed new light on contemporary issues, such as carbon, climate change, fire, bio-energy/biomass, forest health, and other topics. Plenary and breakout sessions from a variety of disciplines were presented during the symposium held October 21-23, 2008, in Park City, UT. For more information, visit the FIA website or contact William McWilliams at wmcwilliams@fs.fed.us or 610-557-4050.
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today.
Awareness of the contribution of deforestation and land degradation to
climate change, as well as the potential for climate change to disrupt
natural systems, is increasing worldwide.
To help share information and ideas on this important topic, the U.S. Forest Service's Office of International Programs (Washington, DC) is pleased to announce a new seminar series, Climate Change and Forests. The series will feature researchers, policymakers, and land managers addressing topics that explore the relationship between climate change and forest management, both at home and around the world. On October 8, 2008, Dr. Steven McNulty of EFETAC's Southern Global Change Program kicked off the series with a presentation, "The Likely Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Forests and Forest Management." For more information about this and upcoming events, visit the International Programs website.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) promotes global cooperation in forest-related research and enhances the understanding of the ecological, economic, and social aspects of forests and trees.
The landscape ecology working group of the IUFRO held their biannual conference September 16-22, 2008, in Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China. The USDA Forest Service was a cosponsor of the conference, themed "Landscape Ecology and Forest Management: Challenges and Solutions." EFETAC director Danny C. Lee delivered a keynote address. Visit the conference website for much more information.
The Southern Forest Insect Work Conference was organized by federal, state, university, and private sector forest entomologists working in the southern United States and has met annually since 1956.
The annual Southern Forest Insect Work Conference (SFIWC) was held in Chattanooga, TN, August 4-7, 2008. SFIWC objectives are: 1) to advance the science and practice of forest entomology, 2) to provide a medium of exchange of professional thought, and 3) to serve as a clearing house for technical information on forest insect problems of the southern United States. Visit the SFIWC website for more information.
Incorporating interdisciplinary concepts is central to both public understanding of ecology and our ability to educate the ecologists of the future.
"Enhancing Ecological Thought by Linking Research and Education" was the theme of the 93rd annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America (ESA), which took place August 3-8, 2008, in Milwaukee, WI. This gathering illustrated how effective collaborations are developed amongst the numerous disciplines related to ecology. Visit the ESA website for the details.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission hosted the annual meeting of the Southern Group of State Foresters.
Leaders of the state forestry agencies in all thirteen southern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands met June 8-11, 2008, in Columbia, SC, to identify and discuss national forestry issues and develop regional strategies to ensure the health and viability of our valuable forest resources. More information is available on the South Carolina Forestry Commission website.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) has formed a work group to examine global forestry issues related to the unwanted international movement of alien invasive species.
The second meeting of the new IUFRO work group on Invasive Species in International Trade took place May 26-30, 2008, in Shepherdstown, WV. This work group covers all taxa, with the focus on pathways and mitigations to prevent the spread of invasive species. Visit the conference website for more information, or contact Kerry Britton at kbritton01@fs.fed.us or (703) 605-4170.
A multi-criteria decision support system (MCDSS) capable of generating a set of National Environmental Threat Assessment Maps (NETAM) is in development.
The MCDSS, including the map products and tabular data produced, is intended to inform and support national-level and regional-level natural resource decision-making. The Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center (WWETAC) sponsored a workshop for the NETAM researchers and collaborators May 6-8, 2008, at the Remote Sensing Applications Center in Salt Lake City, UT. For more information about the NETAM project or the workshop, contact Ken Brewer at kbrewer@fs.fed.us or 801-975-3754.
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) is a cooperative research support program of the state agricultural experiment stations, federal and state agencies, and non-governmental research organizations.
The NADP executive committee and subcommittees held their spring meetings in Pensacola Beach, FL, April 29-May 1, 2008. Additionally, the Critical Loads Ad Hoc Committee met to discuss current and emerging issues regarding the science and application of critical loads for atmospheric deposition in the United States. Visit the NADP website for more information about the Program and the meetings.
RS-2008, the Twelfth Biennial Remote Sensing Applications Conference, was co-sponsored by USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC) and Intermountain Region, Bureau of Land Management, and NASA.
RS-2008 was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from April 15-17. The conference, themed "Supporting Resource Management with Technology," emphasized practical applications of remote sensing technologies and innovative applications of established technologies that benefit the resource management community.
Visit the RSAC website for more information.
The Southern Forest Futures Project (SFFP) is a two-year effort that will use technical forecasts and expert analysis to provide forest managers, policy makers, and science leaders with the clearest possible understanding of the potential long-term implications of changes in southern forests.
The US Forest Service, Southern Research Station and Southern Region, in partnership with the Southern Group of State Foresters, will lead the effort and seek cooperation with other government agencies and the interested public in conducting this analysis. The SFFP builds on the Southern Forest Resource Assessment, which provides a baseline of knowledge for evaluating future changes.
Public input was sought during an initial set of public meetings, and Web-based seminars were held for those who could not attend the meetings. A comment form is available on the SFFP website, as well as much more information about the Project.
The annual FHM Workgroup Meeting provides a forum for open discussion on important forest health issues and is open to all FHM partners.
Primary objectives of the workshop were to:
- Report on forest health conditions and trends;
- Present recent advances in forest health monitoring, evaluations, and research; and
- Use participant focus groups to develop recommendations for improving the FHM program.
To view workshop presentations and supporting documents, visit the National Forest Health Monitoring website. If you have questions about the workshop, please contact the Chair of the Program Committee, Michael Bohne, at mbohne@fs.fed.us or 530-759-1745.
EFETAC and the Southern Research Station (SRS) Science Delivery Group jointly hosted a science writing seminar on December 7, 2007, in Asheville, NC.
The seminar, entitled "Telling the Story about Forest Science," was designed to introduce writers, editors, designers, and scientists to the basics of communicating science through story and visualization. It was conducted by Neil Caudle, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at UNC-Chapel Hill, Director for the Office of Information and Communications, and editor of Endeavors, the University’s award winning magazine on research and creative activity. For more information, contact Zoe Hoyle at zhoyle@fs.fed.us or (828) 257-4388.
EFETAC supported “Scientific Foundations of Conservation Planning in the Cumberland Plateau and Mountains," held November 13 and 14, 2007, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The conference identified, summarized, and evaluated scientific information highly relevant to conservation planning in the Cumberlands. The conference steering committee included representatives from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, University of Tennessee–Knoxville, U.S. Forest Service–Southern Research Station, and National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.
Cogongrass is a growing threat as it continues its rapid spread across the Southeast, reducing forest and pasture productivity, destroying wildlife habitat, impacting rights-of-way, and presenting an extreme fire hazard.
“Confronting the Cogongrass Crisis across the South” was held November 7 and 8, 2007, in Mobile, Alabama. The conference conveyed the latest understanding in restoring lands, managing, controlling, and eradicating cogongrass, and explored existing and needed networks for coordinating strategies for successful cogongrass management.
The conference was sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, and Southeast Exotic Pest Council. The conference proceedings are available here.
