Thursday, September 22, 2016

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 9/23/16

CONGRATUATIONS TO THE REGISTER FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, FLORIDA'S OUTSTANDING TREE FARM OF 2016
The Alonzo and Eliza Register Family Partnership, Ltc. was formed in 1997 by Alonzo and Eliza Register so their land and timber will continue to be enjoyed by the family for generations to come. The Partnership owns a total 1,139 acres of planted and naturally regenerated timberland in southeastern Leon County near the town of Woodville. The centerpiece of the timber operation is the natural longleaf stands that are managed on a natural regeneration system that incorporates frequent, but light, selection harvests in conjunction with frequent prescribed fire. Join us for a tour, lunch and awards ceremony on Friday, October 14, 2016 at their property. Learn about sustainable forest and wildlife habitat management and connect with the local and statewide professionals and resources that are available to assist in your land management. Most of the tour will involve riding in vans or open trailers with several discussion stops and a short walk or two. Please wear appropriate clothing, footwear and bring rain gear in case of wet weather.

This event is free but pre-registration is required. Reserve a space by calling Whitney at the Florida Forestry Association, (850) 222-5646.  Space will be limited and the registration deadline is October 10. View pdf flier here.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION RELEASES SOUTHERN REPORT ON WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FAMILY FOREST OWNERS
AFF conducted a new survey of more than 1,400 Southern family forest owners to better understand their current forest management habitats, including harvesting and thinning, and their values, motivations and barriers to helping wildlife species. AFF found that:
  • 87% of landowners surveyed in the South say protecting and improving wildlife habitat is a key reason they own land
  • 72% are already supporting wildlife, having done one or more forest management practices for wildlife
  • 73% state they want to do more for wildlife in the future
  • Landowners cite a lack of certainty that they are doing right by their land, difficulty finding support and the cost of management as barriers
You can read more and download the full report here:
https://www.forestfoundation.org/family-forest-owners-solution-at-risk-wildlife

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE OF SOUTHERN FIRE EXCHANGE FIRE LINES NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
This issue shares information on SimpleFFMC - a new fine dead fuel moisture calculator developed for the South, which you can learn more about during our webinar this week on Thursday, September 22 at 1pm eastern (click here to register).

In addition you will find these articles: NCSU Researchers Working to Improve Fire Shelters, Fire Ecology and Eastern Oaks, Guide to Southeastern Fire Adapted Communities, Student Travel Grants Now Available, SFE Fall Webinars: Fuel Moisture, Fire Regimes, Fire Adapted Cities, and WindNinja, BehavePlus Workshops, Request for Comments: NWCG Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating System Guide, Update to Spot Weather Forecasts, NEW! Smoke Management Photographic Guide, 2016 Fire Season Hot Topics Webinar, 2017 Training Opportunities at the Prescribed Fire Training Center.

Current and back issues of Fire Lines here

FLORIDA PRESCRIBED FIRE COUNCIL MEETINGS SCHEDULED

Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting: September 23, 2016, Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Ln., Kissimmee, FL 34744. Registration link

North Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting: October 12, 2016, Theatre Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32303. Regsitration info to be posted.
More about Florida Prescribed Fire Councils here

USDA NRCS EQIP ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR FLORIDA FARMERS, RANCHERS CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Application deadline for financial assistance October 21, 2016
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Oct. 21 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2017 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year.

Begin by visiting your local NRCS field office and requesting help developing a conservation plan. Our experts provide this free service to help you use your natural resources more efficiently. To learn about technical and financial assistance available from NRCS, go to Getting Started with NRCS.

SIGN UP FOR WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS
Application deadline is November 15
Agricultural landowners and Indian tribes can apply for a Wetland Reserve Easement until Nov. 15 for fiscal year 2017 funding. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance for landowners to purchase and restore wetlands, protect wildlife habitat and recharge groundwater on their property. Eligible landowners can enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year. Applications are available online. Contact Roney Gutierrez, 352-338-9502 for questions and submissions.

WHAT'S UP WITH MICROPLASTICS?!
The month of September is Microplastic Awareness Month.. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5mm in size that are being found in large quantities in our local water bodies, impacting marine organisms and most likely us too. Everything we do is connected to the water. A statewide team of University of Florida IFAS Extension agents is tackling this huge issue and they need our help. Learn more about microplastics and how you can help minimize their release into water: http://stjohns.ifas.ufl.edu/sea/microplastics/index.html. Facebookers, see, like and share the project at https://www.facebook.com/MicroplasticAwarenessProject


ONGOING SERVICES, INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS:
______________________________________________________________________

SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES?
Do you have pests or a disease in your trees? Leaves or needles wilting, and you don’t know why? Sawdust falling out of your trees, and you don’t know how to save them? There is help: ask your question at the free Forest Health Diagnostic Forum: http://sfrc.ufl.edu/treehealth/forum/.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP VIDEOS  - VIEW AND SHARE!
All the latest videos are on the Florida Forest Stewardship Program home page:
http://sfrc.ufl.edu/forest_stewardship

GOT AN INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?
Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities.

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?
Check the vast array of extension publications available through UF/IFAS on the EDIS publication site:  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/  Wow, there’s a publication about that?


FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS:


UF/IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION EXTENSION PROGRAMS
See http://sfrc.ufl.edu/extension


FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS
For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:
http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinar-calendar/month#.T-zLkBhgZys.blogger


UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CONTINUING FORESTRY EDUCATION CLASSES

See http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/ for the latest offerings.


ALABAMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION FORESTRY WEBINARS

See http://www.aces.edu/natural-resources/forestry/
 

No comments:

Post a Comment