The Southern Regional Extension of Forestry

Issue 166: Week of January 15th, 2024

Highlights

Recent News

In our recent survey, SREF News Digest readers shared that they would love to have direct links to the articles at the top of the newsletter. We are trying it out this week. Click on the headlines below if you want to go directly to the external article.

Regional News

• Silvopasture Webinar Series Hosted by Regional Forestry Extension Team
• Texas A&M Forest Service Hosts Virtual Timber Tax Workshop
• Georgia and Alabama Settle Suit over Chattahoochee Water
• USDA Forest Service Releases 2023 Tax Year Tips for Forest Landowners
• Beginner Land Steward Workshop
• NCSU Publishes Research on the Effects of Longleaf Planting Rates on Timber Quality and Wildlife Habitat
• VT Forestry Releases July 2023 National Housing Report
• Virginia Cooperative Extension Hosts Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop
• 2024 Forest Farming Conference
• New Research Finds Private Land Management is More Important Public Land Management in Sustaining Oaks in Eastern US
• NCSU & NC Prescribed Burn Associations’ Roles in Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Restoration Featured in National News Story
• 2024 International Society of Forest Resource Economics Symposium (ISFRE)
• International Conference on Chemicals and Products from Renewable Carbon 

National News

• ACF Publishes Article on Leading Gen Z in the Workforce
• USDA Highlights Successes in Serving Farmers, Families, and Communities in 2023
• 15th Annual Agroforestry Symposium: Silviculture in Practice
• Conservation Without Conflict Summit 
• American Forests Shares Article on Creative Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
• NFWF Celebrates 40th Anniversary and Surpasses $10 Billion in Total Conservation Impact
• Yale Forestry Hosts Tribal Forestry Webinar Series

Webinars

Access previously listed webinars here.

• How Trees Grow Old Webinar Series 
• Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges
• Keeping Forests as Forests: Incentive Programs for the NC Landowner
• Conversations in Forest History 
• 2024 Texas Timber Tax Workshop
• 2024 REPI Challenge Project Spotlight 
• Understanding and Managing Emerging Needle Diseases of Loblolly Pine in the Southeastern United States 
• Tree Equity Webinar Series: Stories from the Field 
• Generation NEXT Legacy Planning 
• Pursuing Complementary Resilience Funding Opportunities
• 2024 REPI Report to Congress 
• 2024 Designation Cycle Sentinel Landscapes Spotlight 
• AICUZ and REPI Partnerships for Enhanced Land Protection
• Navigating Military Readiness Through Responsible Project Execution 

Funding Opportunities

• NOAA Seeking Applications for 2024 Urban Heat Island Initiative
• USDA Announces 2024 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program
• USDA Announces Opening of Application Period for Regional Agriculture Promotion Program
• FEMA Offering BRIC Direct Technical Assistance for Communities and Tribal Nations
• 2024 Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund Request for Proposals
• Renewable Resources Extension Act – National Focus Fund Project Request for Applications
• Large Watershed Planning Grants in California Forests Request for Proposals

Job Opportunities

• Director – UGA Harley Langdale Center for Forest Business
• Extension Leadership Specialist – Univ. of Georgia

Silvopasture Webinar Series Hosted by Regional Forestry Extension Team

As part of the Woodland Stewards Regional Landowner Webinar series, a multi-state forestry Extension team is hosting a series of webinars on silvopasture on Tuesdays at 1:00 pm ET/ 12:00 pm CT, from January 30- March 5. The Woodland Stewards webinar series has been developed by extension professionals from University of Kentucky, Clemson University, Virginia Cooperative Extension, University of Missouri, University of Georgia, Southern Regional Extension Forestry, and more. This will be the sixth season in the series, previous seasons covered the establishment of woodlands, management, timber taxes, and more! Webinars in this year’s series will include webinars that include an overview of silvopasture, establishment, managing animals, and getting started, as well as stories from producers. To sign up for email reminders about the webinars in the series, click here. Find all the webinars in the Woodland Stewards series here.

Texas A&M Forest Service Hosts Virtual Timber Tax Workshop

Texas A&M Forest Service will host a daylong virtual workshop that will provide basic information about timber taxation and the latest changes to tax laws and rules for 2023 tax return preparations. Topics will focus on federal timber income tax issues for private forest owners with a refresher on local timberland property tax incentives. Participants will gain a clear understanding of commonly misunderstood timber tax issues. The workshop is designed for forest landowners, consulting foresters, accountants, attorneys, and others who work with forest landowners in matters pertaining to timber taxes. The workshop will be held virtually on February 6-7, 2024 from 8:30-3:00 pm Central time. The workshop costs $25 and participants can find more information including the agenda, registration information, and more, by clicking here.

Georgia and Alabama Settle Suit over Chattahoochee Water

Recently, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that the two states have reached an agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers that will end a lawsuit brought by Alabama over water availability from the Chattahoochee River. Alabama filed the suit in 2017, challenging the Corps’ operations in the region, including the Corps’ policy allowing Georgia to make water supply withdrawals near Atlanta. The agreement assures sufficient minimum water flows to both states’ citizens who live and work in the Mid- and Lower Chattahoochee River Basin during times of drought. Under the agreement, the Corps of Engineers will begin formally considering a first-of-its-kind proposal to operate its dams and reservoirs to achieve minimum water-flow objectives on the Chattahoochee River along the States’ border. The Corps’ consideration of the proposal will be subject to a public-comment period and environmental review that could last several months. If the Corps adopts the proposal, Alabama will dismiss its appeal on this matter following a one-year review period, and the litigation will end. Read the full story here.

USDA Forest Service Releases 2023 Tax Year Tips for Forest Landowners

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service will release its new 2023 tax tips for private forest landowners on January 16.  Private forest landowners may think about timber-related federal income taxes only after having a timber sale; however, each forest activity conducted can have tax implications. Generally, all income received is taxable unless excluded by tax law, and nothing is deductible unless a provision allows it. Understanding the forest-related provisions and integrating tax planning into forest management can help lower taxes. The article breaks down the classification use of the land, timber sale, tax deductions, and other forest-related considerations. Each section thoroughly describes each factor and provides examples to help landowners identify what is relevant to them. To find the tax tip article, click here.

Beginner Land Steward Workshop

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). The workshop will be held from February 16-17 in Lubbock, TX. This is a 2-day workshop event with the first day devoted to NRCS staff and cooperating personnel working with new, beginner landowners across Texas. The second day will feature climate-smart practices training for new and beginning landowners followed by a networking social with local cooperating agencies to start building relationships with natural resource professionals targeting conservation and stewardship. Registration coming soon.

NCSU Publishes Research on the Effects of Longleaf Planting Rates on Timber Quality and Wildlife Habitat

The Longleaf Pine is a historically abundant tree species in the Southeast that is often planted to restore it ecologically important ecosystem that once dominated the region. Government cost-share programs that support the establishment of these plantations place restrictions on planting rates to promote wildlife habitat, as greater tree planting density may reduce canopy openness and herbaceous plant cover that are critical components of habitat for priority species. However, some forest managers have expressed concerns that trees grown in more open plantations will be of inferior timber quality with more and larger horizontal branches and associated knots. Researchers examined how density affects dynamics and tradeoffs among understory vegetation structure and composition. Researchers found that bare ground cover and herbaceous cover decreased as density and stand age increased. Based on the results, the researchers conclude that lowering the maximum planting rates is appropriate when wildlife habitat is the main program objective. To read the full research article, click here.

VT Forestry Releases July 2023 National Housing Report

Virginia Tech and the United States Forest Service (USFS) have recently released the October 2023 housing report which is a free service of Virginia Tech, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the US Forest Service. The reports are intended to help individuals gauge present and future activity in the housing market and contain data such as new housing starts, existing home sales, and construction spending. The reports also feature analyses of the overall economic impact of the housing market. There are two sections available, the full report can be accessed here. The report on economic conditions can be accessed here. Previous reports are archived here.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Hosts Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop

The Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCES), in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry, is hosting a virtual workshop to provide free legal information for successful estate planning. This workshop is for anyone who has previously attended a Generation NEXT workshop and those with some legacy planning experience. The workshop will focus on land conservation tools and teach topics such as forest management, land use-value assessments, ag-forestal districts, century farm/forest, and conservation easements. Speakers include legal and financial experts experienced in estate planning as well as natural resource professionals and rural landowners. The workshop will be held on March 7 at 6:30 pm EST. Registration is open until January 19. More details will be available soon. Click here to find more information about general VCES forest landowner programs. For more information on this workshop, click here.

2024 Forest Farming Conference

The Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition (ABFFC) is hosting the 2024 Forest Farming Conference titled Gather to Grow: A Conference to Hone and Shape the Future of Forest Farming. The conference will be held from March 22-24 in Roanoke, Virginia. The conference will feature learning, networking, and strategic planning programs that will shape the future of forest farming of woodland crops such as botanicals, mushrooms, and decorative products in Appalachia and beyond. Learn more and register here.

New Research Finds Private Land Management is More Important Public Land Management in Sustaining Oaks in Eastern US

New research recently published has found that private land management is more important than public land management in sustaining oaks in temperate forests in the eastern US. Preserving the abundance and stocking of oaks has become increasingly challenging in temperate hardwood forests of the eastern US in recent decades due to a remarkable shift in dominance to species that grow under medium conditions (mesophytic), such as maples. Since a significant portion of forestlands in the eastern US are privately owned, it is critical to assess whether current forest management can achieve success in the efforts to sustain oaks while restraining maples. In this study, researchers employed a landscape modeling approach to investigate the long-term outcomes of “business-as-usual” management and alternative management in a temperate hardwood forest. The result of the study emphasizes the influential role of private lands in driving oak-maple dynamics at the regional scale, as they can generate significant regional effects even when public lands continue with their business-as-usual management practices. Read the full research report here.

NCSU & NC Prescribed Burn Associations’ Roles in Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Restoration Featured in National News Story

North Carolina State University (NCSU) and prescribed burn associations across North Carolina are laying down prescribed fires to restore the longleaf pine range that is the backbone of forest ecology in the Southeast. According to NCSU researchers, more than 100 associations exist throughout 18 states. Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association is considered the region’s first, and the group reports having helped up to 500 people clear land or learn how to do it themselves. The longleaf pine ecosystem spans just 3% of the 140,000 square miles it encompassed before industrialization and urbanization, but some pockets remain from Virginia to Texas to Florida. While state forestry services provide classes, some credit burn associations for the hands-on experience and crews needed to confidently manage the pines. To learn more about how NCSU and prescribed burn associations are bringing back fire to the land, click here to read the full article.

2024 International Society of Forest Resource Economics Symposium (ISFRE)

Arkansas Center for Forest Business, College of Forestry, Ag., and Natural Resources, University of Arkansas at Monticello is hosting the 2024 International Society of Forest Resource Economics Symposium. The symposium will take place from April 1-3 in Little Rock, Arkansas. The theme for this year is “What’s Over the Horizon? Future Challenges and Opportunities Facing Sustainable Forest Management.” The event includes keynotes, general, and poster presentations on the meeting theme. More details and an agenda will be released soon. Learn more and register here.

International Conference on Chemicals and Products from Renewable Carbon

The University of Tennessee Center for Renewable Carbon, in partnership with the Southeastern Regional Sun Grant Center, is hosting the 7th International Conference on Chemicals and Products from Renewable Carbon on St. Simons Island, Georgia from September 30 – August 3. This meeting is a unique forum for scientists and engineers from around the world to assemble and discuss scientific gaps and propose novel technologies to design for sustainability and enable circular bioeconomy systems. See the flyer here.

ACF Publishes Article on Leading Gen Z in the Workforce

The Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), a national organization committed to serving independent consulting foresters who manage forests and market forest products for private woodland owners, recently published an article describing Gen Z and understanding how to recruit and retain Gen Z in the forestry community. Born between 1995 and 2015, there are 68.9 million individuals who comprise "Generation Z" living in the US today and are in the workforce with an entirely new set of characteristics and values than any other generation before them. Comprising approximately 5% of the workforce today, Gen Z is steadily emerging into the workplace in consistent numbers while some have already been there for several years. Gen Z employees will care about sustainability efforts and regenerative forestry practices that reduce carbon. Attracting Gen Zs to the forestry profession needs to start by messaging about our responsibility to steward our land through educated means. To learn more about how Gen Z differs from previous generations and how to reduce new employee turnover, read the full article here.

USDA Highlights Successes in Serving Farmers, Families, and Communities in 2023

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently highlighted the projects and partnerships from 2023 that helped build economic prosperity for farmers, families, and communities nationally. Due to record investments in rural America, USDA has been able to help farmers continue their operations and increase revenue, connect rural communities to internet access, advanced efforts to mitigate climate change, made investments to supplement small businesses, lowered energy costs, and more. As of December 2023, USDA has helped more than 30,000 farmers and ranchers who were in financial distress stay on their farms and farming, thanks to resources provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. USDA’s Forest Service (USFS) met and exceeded key milestones in addressing the wildfire crisis, restoring national forests, and supporting rural communities. These benchmarks included treating 4.3 million acres of national forest system lands to reduce wildfire risk and 1.9 million acres of national forest land with prescribed fire. In addition to their ongoing efforts to protect communities and natural resources from the devastating impacts of wildfire, the Forest Service has also invested in the well-being and climate resilience of urban communities. The USDA continues to highlight other successful efforts from 2023 in the full article that can be read here.

15th Annual Agroforestry Symposium: Silviculture in Practice

The 2024 Agroforestry Symposium, Silvopasture in Practice, will explore how silvopasture practices have emerged as some of the most critical agroforestry tools for carbon sequestration and farm system integration. This year’s symposium will bring together the country’s leading scientists and practitioners exploring silvopasture’s potential, to identify a roadmap for future research needs, solidify connections, and spark new collaborations. This Symposium will be held in-person in Columbia, Missouri on January 17, with an option to attend virtually.  Click here to learn more and register.

USDA to Begin Issuing Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program Payments

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it will begin issuing more than $233 Million in Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) payments. These payments help producers who suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020 calendar year. Eligible PARP applicants must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year. PARP benefits help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses. PARP was designed to help deliver financial assistance to a broader set of producers, including underserved communities, small and medium-sized producers, and farmers and producers of livestock and less traditional crops. The PARP application period closed July 14, 2023. More than 38,500 PARP applications triggered payments totaling nearly $7 billion, meaning PARP program participation exceeds available funding. Therefore, consistent with PARP regulations, to ensure equitable funding distribution to all eligible producers, a 9.5% payment factor has been applied to all payments. Read more about PARP payments here.

USFWS Call for Hunters to Help Cull 500,000 Barred Owls Over 30 Years in the PNW

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has put out a call to hunters to help cull 500,000 Barred Owls in the Pacific Northwest over the next 30 years as part of a new management plan. Barred owls have lived in the Pacific Northwest since the 1950s. Over the past 70 years, they have slowly displaced the native northern spotted owl, causing spotted owls to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. In just the past 20 years, northern spotted owl populations have declined between 35 to 80%. The USFWS plans to start culling them in 2025 with an initial push of 20,000 birds for the year, an increase to 13,000 birds the next decade, and a continual increase each decade. If successful, the plan will eliminate 30 percent of the barred owl population, which should be enough to give spotted owls a fighting chance. Landowners and land managers will be able to apply for permits to shoot barred owls. Managers are also considering capturing and euthanizing barred owls in more developed areas with higher concentrations of people. Read the full article here. 

Arborist Short Course Series 

Tree Tenders Training Series

Woods in Your Backyard

Frontiers in Forest Health: Beech Leaf Disease 

The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and UT Residential and Community Forestry Workgroup have joined forces to bring you free educational seminars to help you manage urban forests. The webinars are limited to 1,000 participants. 1 CEU ISA Certified Arborist credit available. Register here.

New Webinar Series brought to you by The Forest School and the Yale Center for Environmental Justice at Yale School of the Environment, and Salish Kootenai College. This webinar will focus on the current state of tribal forest management and Indigenous stewardship with a series of speakers from different tribes, universities, non-profits, and agencies. CEUs are available for foresters. Register for the series here. 

Join the Forest Stewards Guild for an evening learning about ways to keep forests as forests. They will be joined by experts on tax incentive programs, conservation easements, and carbon markets. Come prepared with questions about your land! Register here.

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

With its idyllic or dramatic depictions of America’s forested landscapes, the Hudson River school of landscape painting deeply influenced the early conservation movement. The painters most often associated with it—Cole, Bierstadt, Gifford, to name a few—are male. Susie M. Barstow and other women were part of the Hudson River School but were omitted from its histories when they were written in the 20th century. Nancy Siegel’s lecture will examine the life and career of this fascinating artist through her paintings, letters, photographs, and sketchbooks, which provide a unique opportunity to present a comprehensive study that is both art-historically significant and visually stunning. This presentation is approved for 1.0 hours of CFE credit by SAF. Register here.

How Foresters Can Become Certified Technical Service Providers

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

The daylong workshop will provide basic information about timber taxation and the latest changes to tax laws and rules for 2023 tax return preparations. Topics will focus on federal timber income tax issues for private forest owners with a refresher on local timberland property tax incentives. Participants will gain a clear understanding of commonly misunderstood timber tax issues. Learn more and register here. 

For the 13th consecutive year, the REPI Program hosted the annual REPI Challenge, a competition with dedicated funding to advance REPI project outcomes through large-scale innovation and conservation. By distributing funds across 17 projects, the 2024 REPI Challenge is advancing efforts that preserve key mission capabilities of strategic importance to the DOD and enhance installation and range resilience to climate change and severe weather events. Join the REPI Program to learn more about the 2024 REPI Challenge projects and hear presentations from various project recipients. Learn more about the 2024 REPI Webinar Series here.  Click here to watch the webinar.

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Dr. Caterina Villari (Associate Professor & Co-Director of Southern Pine Health Research Cooperative – University of Georgia) will discuss common loblolly pine needle diseases across the southeastern U.S., signs of disease, and management techniques. Learn more and register here. 

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Communities of color and lower income communities have 36-45% less tree cover and are 6-9°F hotter than wealthier and whiter communities. Tree Equity is a climate justice issue. Join American Forests and partners for a free online learning series to ensure your urban forestry investments make an impact on Tree Equity. This series is geared toward recipients of the USDA-Forest Service 2023 Urban and Community Forestry grant awards, an unprecedented national $1.5B investment in urban and community forestry, but open to all involved in urban and community forestry. Register here.

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

The Virginia Cooperative Extension, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Forestry, is hosting a virtual workshop to provide free legal information for successful estate planning. Speakers include legal and financial experts experienced in estate planning as well as natural resource professionals and rural landowners. Learn more here.

The REPI Program safeguards military missions through cost-sharing agreements involving the Military Services, Federal agencies, state and local governments, and private conservation organizations. In addition to this, REPI funds serve as a non-federal match for any federal conservation or resilience program. Join the REPI Program to learn about complementary funding opportunities that can leveraged to protect the environment, enhance military installation resilience, and ensure military readiness. During this webinar, presenters will provide an overview of various funding opportunities and offer best practices and tips on pursuing and writing successful funding proposals. Learn more about the 2024 REPI Webinar Series here. Watch the webinar here. 

New Webinar Series brought to you by The Forest School and the Yale Center for Environmental Justice at Yale School of the Environment, and Salish Kootenai College. This webinar will focus on the current state of tribal forest management and Indigenous stewardship with a series of speakers from different tribes, universities, non-profits, and agencies. CEUs are available for foresters. Register for the series here. 

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

The annual REPI Report to Congress provides installations and partners with a snapshot of the REPI Program’s accomplishments across the fiscal year. While the contents of the Report to Congress change every year, the report consistently shares updated project funding information, Sentinel Landscape Partnership updates, and REPI Project examples. Join the REPI Program to learn about the REPI Program’s Fiscal Year 2023 accomplishments and project examples in the 2024 Report to Congress. Learn more about the 2024 REPI Webinar Series here. Join the webinar here.

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is thrilled to announce newly designated landscapes from the 2024 Sentinel Landscape Designation Cycle. This process, informed by ten years of lessons learned in building innovative connections between partners in conservation, working lands, climate resilience, and national defense, aims to set the stage for the next decade of impact in sentinel landscapes. Join the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership to learn about the newly designated landscapes. During this webinar, representatives from selected landscapes will explore their history, priorities, and alignment with the mission of the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership. Additionally, presenters will share best practices and insights on why they believe their applications were successful. Learn more about the 2024 REPI Webinar Series here. Watch the webinar here. 

The Air Installations Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) program serves as serves as one example of how REPI partnerships can be integrated with other DOD tools and strategies to enhance land protection, conservation efforts, and cost savings. Join the REPI Program to learn how air installations collaborate with local governments and communities through the AICUZ program to educate stakeholders about the air installation’s mission. During this webinar participants will hear from speakers who will highlight the AICUZ program’s objectives in developing land use recommendations that inform zoning decisions and local ordinances, crucially reducing the potential for accidents and mitigating noise impacts on communities. Learn more about the 2024 REPI Webinar Series here. Join the webinar here. 

The REPI Program ensures responsible, sensitive, and collaborative project execution by aligning with regulatory requirements for environmental compliance, cultural preservation, and tribal consultations. Join the REPI Program and the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership to learn about projects that involve compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Tribal consultations to effectively balance military readiness with environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. Learn more about the 2024 REPI Webinar Series here. View the webinar here.

NOAA Seeking Applications for 2024 Urban Heat Island Initiative

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS), in partnership with CAPA Strategies LLC, is now accepting applications from organizations interested in participating in the 2024 Urban Heat Island (UHI) mapping campaign program. NOAA’s National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS), in partnership with CAPA Strategies LLC, is now accepting applications from organizations interested in participating in the 2024 Urban Heat Island (UHI) mapping campaign program. The UHI mapping program is part of the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative, and applicants will be asked to describe how their work will further environmental justice initiatives in their community. During the campaign, organizers will track and report on the allocation of benefits to underserved communities. After mapping occurs, communities remain part of the UHI community of practice which allows campaign leaders to connect with other communities and share solutions. NOAA will provide funding to CAPA Strategies to support community campaigns in 2024. Applications are due by 5:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by mid-March 2024. Learn more and apply here.

USDA Announces 2024 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS) recently released a notice of funding opportunity under the Urban and Community Forestry Program (U&CF). This is the only program dedicated to the urban forest program in the federal government. The program works in partnership with State and local forestry agencies, non-profit and tribal organizations, and institutions of higher education to restore, sustain, and manage more than 140 million acres of urban and community forest lands for the benefit of communities across the United States. The Forest Service is seeking proposals to address the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026) Goals 4 and 5. Goal 4 is to increase the biodiversity, health, and resilience of trees in urban and community forests. Goal 5 is to support the use of more locally grown, regionally adapted, insect and pest-resistant, and diverse native or sire-appropriate species. Proposals are to be received by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 29, 2024. The Action Plan can be accessed here. The full notice of funding opportunity and application can be found here.

USDA Announces Opening of Application Period for Regional Agriculture Promotion Program

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (USDA RAPP) recently announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the first tranche of funding. USDA is providing up to $300 million in funding in its first year to support eligible projects that enable exporters to break into new markets and increase market share in growth markets. RAPP funds are available to non-profit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, non-profit State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives, and state agencies that conduct approved market development activities to foster expanded exports and market diversification by encouraging the development, maintenance, and expansion of diverse commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. RAPP awards will be generally granted for a period of performance of five years, with an expected period of performance starting on June 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2029. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on February 2, 2024. Read the full announcement here.

FEMA Offering BRIC Direct Technical Assistance for Communities and Tribal Nations

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering direct technical assistance for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The BRIC Direct Technical Assistance (BRIC TDA) initiative provides tailored support to communities and tribal nations that may not have the resources to begin climate resilience planning and project solution design on their own. The program will partner with communities interested in enhancing their capability and capacity to design holistic, equitable hazard mitigation solutions that advance community-driven objectives. The wide-ranging non-financial support FEMA provides to BRIC DTA communities includes climate risk assessments, community engagement, partnership building, and mitigation and climate adaptation planning. Support for BRIC DTA communities can range from pre-application activities to grant closeout. The wide-ranging non-financial support FEMA provides to BRIC DTA communities includes climate risk assessments, community engagement, partnership building, and mitigation and climate adaptation planning. Support for BRIC DTA communities can range from pre-application activities to grant closeout. The open period to submit the form is October 16, 2023 to February 29, 2024. Learn more about BRIC TDA and find the request form here. Completed forms can be emailed to the BRIC DTA inbox.

2024 Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund Request for Proposals

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has today announced the release of the 2024 request for proposals (RFP) under the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund. This RFP expects to award approximately $30 million in federal and private sector funding in support of on-the-ground projects that help accelerate longleaf pine restoration on private and public lands to support wildlife, sequester carbon, safeguard water quality, and increase forest resilience. Limited funding also is available to support bottomland hardwood restoration and enhancement activities as outlined within the RFP. In pursuit of habitat and species restoration goals, applicants are encouraged to prioritize projects that also address co-benefits of proposed restoration activities (carbon sequestration, water quality/quantity, etc.) and engage local communities and historically underserved landowners. All proposals must specifically address how projects will directly and measurably contribute to the longleaf pine and associated species goals outlined in the Longleaf Forest and Rivers Business Plan. Full proposals are due Thursday, February 15, 2024, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.Registration is required and applicants can register here. See the full RFP here.

Renewable Resources Extension Act – National Focus Fund Project Request for Applications

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a request for applications for fiscal year 2024 Renewable Resources Extension Act – National Focus Fund Projects (RREA-NFF). The purpose of the grant program is to provide funds for extension projects that have national or regional relevancy. In particular, the program supports extension projects that address emerging forest and rangeland resources through the adoption of climate-smart technologies among forest and rangeland owners. The RREA program of NIFA is soliciting applications in priority areas that are extension projects that ensure the adoption of climate-smart technologies and practices in forest systems and rangeland systems. The technical assistance webinar related to this FY 2024 funding opportunity will be scheduled soon. The deadline for applications is March 13, 2024. Learn more and apply here. 

Large Watershed Planning Grants in California Forests Request for Proposals

Partnering with the Pacific Southwest Region of the United States Forest Service (USFS), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), is managing over $50 million for landscape-scale grants — encompassing up to 250,000 acres — to address comprehensive efforts to restore forest ecosystems. The California Forests Program will award approximately $50 million in grants in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, state agencies, local/municipal agencies, and tribal governments and organizations. NFWF expects that average awards for projects will range between $5 million and $15 million. Projects may extend from 5 to 7 years. Applicants will have to exhibit their competency to manage not only funding, but also project activities across the landscape. NFWF will accept Pre-Proposals for projects through Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 8:59 PM Pacific Time. Applicants whose Pre-Proposals are selected for further consideration will be asked to submit a Full Proposal for review. Learn more here.

Director – UGA Harley Langdale Center for Forest Business

The University of Georgia is seeking to fill a 12-month, academic professional (non-tenure track) faculty position in the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and conducting the biennial Timberland Investment Conference and other periodic continuing education programs. They will also oversee the CFB budget, assist in strategic planning efforts, market forest business graduate programs and recruit students, support and promote CFB faculty research efforts, and expand and maintain close ties to program employers and stakeholders. To ensure full consideration, please apply on or before January 12, 2024. Review of complete applications will begin January 13, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. Read the full posting and apply here.

Uwharrie National Forest Prescribed Fire/Fuels Seasonal Crew Member (2 Positions)

The Ember Alliance is hiring 2 seasonal, 4-6 month prescribed fire crewmember positions in Troy, NC. This position will participate in the day-to-day operations of a module focused on aiding partners on prescribed fire and natural resource management projects. The position is predominantly in the field, in potentially difficult environmental conditions such as hot and humid or cold weather, loose footing, and steep terrain. Crewmembers will be required to pass the Arduous Work Capacity Test. The position is open until filled with an initial assessment deadline of December 1. Learn more and apply here.

The 2024 Agroforestry Symposium, Silvopasture in Practice, will explore how silvopasture practices have emerged as some of the most critical agroforestry tools for carbon sequestration and farm system integration. This year’s symposium will bring together the country’s leading scientists and practitioners exploring silvopasture’s potential, to identify a roadmap for future research needs, to solidify connections, and to spark new collaborations. Join in-person or virtually. Click here to learn more and register.

Wildlife & Invasive Species Education (WISE) Workshop

Heirs Property Summit

Southern Wood-Based Economic Development Workshop 

Red Hills Fire Festival

SAF Rising Professionals Conference

Heirs Property Summit

JCEP Extension Leadership Conference

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS). This is a 2-day workshop event with the first day devoted to NRCS staff and cooperating personnel working with new, beginner landowners across Texas. The second day will feature climate-smart practices training for new and beginning landowners followed by a networking social with local cooperating agencies to start building relationships with natural resource professionals targeting conservation and stewardship. Registration coming soon.

18th North American Agroforestry Conference (NAAC)

Conservation Without Conflict is expanding its impact as a strong, unified voice for voluntary and collaborative wildlife conservation on working lands across America. Join them at the 2024 Summit to make your voice heard as they celebrate the past year’s accomplishments and examine the future value proposition of this initiative. Learn more and register here. 

SESAF 2023 Annual Meeting

Southern Missouri TREX

Green Schools Conference

Heirs Property Summit

2024 Forest Farming Conference

Arkansas Center for Forest Business, College of Forestry, Ag., and Natural Resources, University of Arkansas at Monticello is hosting the 2024 International Society of Forest Resource Economics Symposium. The theme for this year is “What’s Over the Horizon? Future Challenges and Opportunities Facing Sustainable Forest Management.” The event includes keynotes, general, and poster presentations on the meeting theme. More details and an agenda will be released soon. Learn more and register here.

USFS FIA User Group Meeting

Heirs Property Summit

National Conferene on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER)

JCEP Public Issues Leadership Development Conference

2024 AI in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference

7th International Fire Behavior and Fuel Conference

Alabama Forest Owners' Association Annual Meeting

Biennial Conference of University Education in Natural Resources

2024 ANREP Biennial National Conference

Heirs Property Summit

ACF - National Conference - Florida's Forest: Fire & Rain

Heirs Property Summit

Great Plains Fire Summit 2024

The University of Tennessee Center for Renewable Carbon, in partnership with the Southeastern Regional Sun Grant Center, is hosting the 7th International Conference on Chemicals and Products from Renewable Carbon. This meeting is a unique forum for scientists and engineers from around the world to assemble and discuss scientific gaps and propose novel technologies to design for sustainability and enable circular bioeconomy systems. See the flyer here.

ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services