Events

Northwest Wildland Urban Interface Conference

The term "wildland urban interface" refers to the areas where homes and non-cultivated landscapes such as forest and rangelands mingle. Fire is currently the big issue in this zone but many others are emerging, including: invasive species, non-point-source pollution of streams and lakes, wildlife issues, growth, planning, rural infrastructure, sustainable development, and aesthetics, among others.This conference is designed to give rural policy makers, local agency staff, contractors, realtors, foresters, and rural residents an opportunity to learn about current research and experience and apply it to policies and activities in the wildland urban interface.On November 9-10, 2005 University of Idaho Extension and Washington State University Extension are holding a program titled the "Inland Northwest Wildland Urban Interface Conference", in Worley Idaho (just south of Coeurd Alene). The purpose of the conference is to give rural policy makers,local agency staff, contractors, realtors, foresters, and rural residents an opportunity to learn about current research and experience and apply it topolicies and activities in wildland urban interface (WUI) zones.This years conference is focused primarily on fire, though we are also hitting some other issues such as WUI demographics and land use planning. If it is successful, future conferences will look at invasive species,non-point-source pollution of streams and lakes, wildlife issues, growth, planning, rural infrastructure, sustainable development, aesthetics and among others. I have attached a PDF file of the conference flyer. If you know of folks who might be interested, please pass this along. I know there are a lot of local communities, particularly in the west, that are wrestling with WUI fire issues, and this would be an opportunity to them to learn what some folks in this part of the world are doing on these issues. Hope your fall is going well! Chris Chris Schnepf Area Extension Educator - Forestry University of Idaho Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, and Benewah Counties UI Kootenai County Extension Office1000 West Hubbard, Suite 140 Coeur d Alene, Idaho 83814-2277 Phone: (208) 446-1680 Fax: (208) 446-1690 E-mail: cschnepf@uidaho.edu Web: www.cnr.uidaho.edu/extforest