The Southern Regional Extension of Forestry

Issue 171: Week of April 22nd, 2024

Recent News

Regional News

• Input Requested for the Pine Pandemic Preparedness Plan (P4) Survey 
• ProForest Forest Health Group Releases New Podcast
• Auburn Hosts Second CLT Conference The Sustainable Future of CLT in the South: Grow. Design. Build.
• Panhandle Wildfires Highlight Need To Protect Firefighters’ Health
• UGA Forestry Outreach Releases Article on Improving Thinned Pine Stand Growth with Herbicide or Fertilizer Treatments 
• NDA Book Review – Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region
• NCSU Entomology Shares Tips on the Cicada Emergence This Year
• SCFC Becomes SAF’s First Organizational Member
• Agroforestry Farm Tour Series in Tennessee

National News

• 2024 Family Forest Education Awards Call for Nominations
• New ANREP Professional & Leadership Development Online Course Opportunity
• Verra Releases Version 4.6 of the Verified Carbon Standard
• Announcing the 2024 ANREP Awards Program Winners!
• New Federal Site for Precipitation Maps
• Urban Wood Drying Workshop
• Forest Service Wood Innovations Grantee Spotlight: Firewood Banks
• Alliance for Green Heat and USFS Partner to Expand National Network of Firewood Banks
• Nature Climate Change Journal Article Confirms Solid Scientific Basis for Mitigation Using Nature-based Climate Solutions

Webinars

Access previously listed webinars here.

• Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar + Tornado Vulnerability in the Southeast
• Conversations in Forest History
• Decisions in Forestry: A Foundation from Indigenous Points of View
• Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) Peer Learning Session: Exploring Collaborative Health, Resilience, and Governance
• Succession Planning Webinar
• An Equitable Transition? Energy and Economic Development in Tribal Nations
• How Anatomical Features of Urban Wood Create Unique Designs
• Pond Management
• Learning from the Media: A Conversation with Journalists
• Working with the Media: How to Know Your Messages and Communicate
• Crisis Communication: What Do We Say When Things Go Wrong?

Funding Opportunities

• 2024 Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund Request for Proposals

Job Opportunities

• Forest Protection Chief (Georgia Forestry Commission)
• Community Forestry & Arboriculture Faculty Position (UGA)
• Wildland Fire Training Specialist at Tall Timbers Research Station
• Forest Health Monitoring Analyst/Asst. Professor (NSCU)
• Private Lands Wildlife Forester (West Virginia)

Input Requested for the Pine Pandemic Preparedness Plan (P4) Survey

Researchers from the University of Georgia are launching a survey to solicit input for development of a “Pine Pandemic Preparedness Plan.” Southern pine forests may be threatened by high impact invasive pests and diseases. In response, a volunteer group of scientists, forest health specialists, and managers have created a draft version of the Pine Pandemic Preparedness Plan (P4) to provide guidelines for stakeholders to respond rapidly, efficiently, and effectively to any new incursion in our forests. The P4 is meant to be a proactive approach, usable by anyone, flexible, and portable across regions. They are soliciting wide input on this draft plan to provide feedback on its various components. Forestry professionals with agencies, companies, Extension, etc. can use this link to contribute. Forest landowners can contribute to the survey using this link. Any questions about the survey should be directed to Dr. Khamal Ghandi, kjghandi@uga.edu. Please share this survey with your colleagues or any forest landowners.

ProForest Forest Health Group Releases New Podcast

ProForest, a collaborative group focused on proactive forest health and resilience recently released a new podcast, “PodForest.” PodForest features informal conversations with experts in multiple fields pertinent to forest health and resilience. While the podcast is geared towards non-industrial private landowners, it can be beneficial for anyone with an interest in forestry and natural resources. Find the link to the podcast here.

Auburn Hosts Second CLT Conference The Sustainable Future of CLT in the South: Grow. Design. Build.

Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment will be hosting its second conference on CLT, titled: “the Sustainable Future of CLT in the South: Grow. Design. Build.” Cross-laminated timber (CLT) stands as a burgeoning industry in the southern United States, capitalizing on the abundant presence of southern pine and other softwoods found in the region. The utilization of CLT offers a myriad of economic and environmental advantages across various sectors of the supply chain, benefiting stakeholders ranging from landowners and foresters to developers, contractors, architects, and engineers. Discover more about this innovative construction material and other sustainable mass timber products at this Auburn University-hosted CLT conference. The event will be held October 7-9, 2024 in Auburn, AL. Click here to learn more and register.

Panhandle Wildfires Highlight Need To Protect Firefighters’ Health

A Texas A&M researcher is studying the physical and mental toll of wildland firefighting with the aim of keeping first responders safe from smoke and other hazards. They collected and analyzed health data from 50+ firefighters in the spring/summer of 2023 via portable air quality sensors and Apple watches, which tracked heart rate. They will use this data to screen for potential cardiovascular issues. The study will be published later this year and is intended to contribute to firefighters improving their understanding of their physical and mental health needs as well as informing new safety measures. To read the article, click here.

UGA Forestry Outreach Releases Article on Improving Thinned Pine Stand Growth with Herbicide or Fertilizer Treatments 

The University of Georgia (UGA) forestry outreach team recently released an article on improving stand growth in longleaf, loblolly, and slash pine stands through herbicide or fertilizer treatments. Selecting treatments is based on many different factors including land-use history, woody competition and more. Which treatments are applied has a lot to do with timing, and recent activities. To find out more, click here. 

NDA Book Review – Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region

The National Deer Association (NDA) recently shared a book review of the recent Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region. NDA’s mission is to ensure the future of wild deer, wildlife habitat and hunting and they do that through education and outreach, policy and advocacy, as well as recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters. With their focus on wildlife habitat, prescribed burning is a topic of importance for them. Find out more about their perspective on the Guidebook here.

SCFC Becomes SAF’s First Organizational Members

North Carolina State University (NCSU) Entomologist shares information on the emergence of cicadas this year.  Two broods of cicadas are expected to emerge this spring across the country, including cicadas on 13- and 17-year cycles of emergence. It has been more than 200 years since this happened the same year. While these broods will mostly be separated geographically, with NC experiencing the 13-year cycle and areas close to Illinois experiencing the 17-year insects. The insects emerge when the ground reaches a certain temperature, which will be around May in NC, and millions will be present for the few weeks they are around. Read more about these insects here.

Agroforestry Farm Tour Series in Tennessee

This free, on-farm educational event includes an in-depth tour of the technical aspects of silvopasture establishment and a networking session connecting producers with technical and financial assistance. The event is May 3rd at LickSkillet Farm in Tennessee, east of Knoxville. The event is sponsored by the Appalachian Sustainable Development group, LickSkillet Farm and others, and features North Carolina State University (NCSU) Animal Science Extension Specialist. To find out more, click here. To register, click here.

2024 Family Forest Education Awards Call for Nominations

The National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA), in cooperation with the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP), will present the annual FAMILY FORESTS EDUCATION AWARDS at the NAUFRP General Assembly in conjunction with the 2024 Society of American Foresters (SAF) national convention in Loveland, CO, September 17-20, 2024. The Comprehensive Program and Individual Project awards will be presented to educational institutions deemed to have delivered programming most benefiting family forest owners over the last five years. Any educational institution is eligible. The awards will be presented to the administrative unit originating and hosting the programming. Go to www.naufrp.org for more information on NAUFRP and Extension programs.

New ANREP Professional & Leadership Development Online Course Opportunity

The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) Professional & Leadership Development Committee is launching a new free professional and leadership development opportunity! Seeding Success is a unique online course for early career Extension Forestry and Natural Resource Professionals, that supports a successful Extension career. The 8-module asynchronous course combines presentations and recorded interviews by experienced Extension natural resource professionals with readings to cover a variety of professional development topics, including networking and mentorship, audience and needs assessment, program development and delivery, program evaluation, scholarship, funding, and more. Although the course is targeted towards early career forestry and natural resource Extension professionals, it has information and insights that is also relevant to experienced Extension professionals (as well as non-Extension natural resource educators). For questions and additional information, contact Holly Campbell, ANREP Professional and Leadership Development Committee chair. While this course is targeted towards ANREP members, others are also welcome. To register, click here. 

Verra Releases Version 4.6 of the Verified Carbon Standard

Verra, is an organization founded by environmental and business leaders in 2007 to create a methodology and procedure for quality assurance in voluntary carbon markets, including the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program and others. They build standards for multiple activities such as reducing deforestation, improving agricultural practices, addressing plastic waste and more. Verra maintains a registry for the Verified Carbon Standard program and is the most widely used greenhouse gas crediting program. Verra recently issued a new version (v4.6) of the VCS Standard that clarifies the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program’s ecosystem health safeguards. As a result of these clarifications, Verra will permit the limited use of non-native monocultures in Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) and Wetlands Restoration and Conservation (WRC) projects in the VCS Program. Per the program’s ecosystem health safeguards, the use of non-native monocultures resulting in ecosystem conversion is only permitted in degraded ecosystems. Read more about this update here.

Announcing the 2024 ANREP Awards Program Winners!

The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) recently announced the winners of its 2024 award program. Ninety-two nominations were received and the Awards Committee and member judges worked hard to evaluate and choose the recipients for outstanding educational materials and outstanding achievement. Awardees from the South included Virginia Cooperative Extension’s forestry team and it’s “Fifteen Minutes in the Forest,” program (silver award for tv/video), a bronze award for the Auburn Extension forestry team for “Chainsaw Safety: Ergonomics,” in the short publication category. The Alabama A&M university, Alabama Cooperative Extension System teams and Clemson University Extension teams won gold, bronze and silver awards in the promotional and marketing materials category. Many other great teams, programs and resources received well-deserved awards. Award recipients will be recognized during the  ANREP Biennial Conference Awards Dinner in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Click here to download the winners list.

New Federal Site for Precipitation Maps

The National Weather Prediction Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recently updated their website for the national precipitation maps, which is based on radar-estimated rainfall. You can find it at https://water.noaa.gov/. It allows the display of stream gauge observations as well as forecasts and also allows you to display daily, monthly, and yearly precipitation amounts. 

Urban Wood Drying Workshop

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is hosting an Urban Wood Drying Workshop featuring North Carolina State University (NCSU) Wood Products Extension Professor Frederik Laleicke as the instructor. The workshop will be held June 3-5, 2024 in Adrian, Michigan. The workshop will include lectures, hands-on activities and labs on: urban wood philosophy and business culture, wood identification, moisture, kiln drying, and more. To register for this workshop or find out more, click here. 

Forest Service Wood Innovations Grantee Spotlight: Firewood Banks

The Forest Service Wood Innovations program is excited to invite you to their next Grantee Spotlight Session! For this session, they’ll be highlighting support to firewood banks authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Forest Service has partnered with the Alliance for Green Heat (AGH) to fund 80 firewood banks in 24 states over the past two years. Applications for this year’s funding will open on May 1st, so this is a great opportunity to learn more about the program. Register for the virtual event here.

Alliance for Green Heat and USFS Partner to Expand National Network of Firewood Banks 

The Alliance for Green Heat is making over $1 million available to expand and connect the nation’s network of firewood banks thanks to a grant from the USDA Forest Service made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Firewood banks, similar in approach to food banks, provide a local, renewable and cost-effective heating source to households in need. Firewood banks can start applying for funds on May 1. Banks that have already received funding can apply for renewable grants on September 1. 

The program is intended to help firewood banks expand, be sustainable, deliver seasoned wood and improve safety practices. Read more about it here.

Nature Climate Change Journal Article Confirms Solid Scientific Basis for Mitigation Using Nature-based Climate Solutions

In a recent edition of Nature Climate Change, an article was published that provides a summative review of the science underlying nature-based climate solutions. Viable nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) are needed to achieve climate goals expressed in international agreements like the Paris Accord. Many NbCS pathways have strong scientific foundations and can deliver meaningful climate benefits but effective mitigation is undermined by pathways with less scientific certainty. This paper included an extensive literature review with an expert elicitation on 43 pathways and find that at present the most used pathways, such as tropical forest conservation, have a solid scientific basis for mitigation. To read the entire analysis, click here.

Join us for the Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar! This webinar series provides the region with information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods, and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Niño and La Niña. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as wildfires, agriculture production, disruption to water supply, and ecosystems. The April webinar will feature a special presentation on "Tornado Vulnerability in the Southeast." To register, click here.

For centuries, Christian monks have embraced sustainable forestry practices to protect the land around their monasteries. Today, in the United States and elsewhere, monasteries face challenges to managing their lands similar to those of secular landowners, including feeling pressure to sell their lands and managing for climate change. But monasteries have additional challenges associated with being a religious order, too. Join Jason Brown, author of Dwelling in the Wilderness: Modern Monks in the American West (Trinity University Press, 2023), as he discusses the history of monastic forestry and explores some lessons for our times. Click here to register.

Curious about the ways Native American Tribes and First Nations practice sustainable land management? Join this webinar on April 24 at 1 pm ET to hear from panelists about unique approaches to sustainable land management, the cultural importance with the ecosystem, and the role certifications play in their forest management. FREE for members, $10 for nonmembers.

Journalists will share their experiences reporting on fire in a variety of mediums. Panelists will discuss the constraints and incentives they face when reporting, including suggestions for building relationships with journalists and communicating effectively with and through them. Click here to learn more and register.

Peer Learning Session Objectives:

- Share high-level findings from the collaborative governance assessment administered by Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI). 

- Discuss assessment outcomes, including CFLRP collaborative health, function, resilience, and perceived outcomes of collaborative work. 

- Learn from projects that are working to make project-level assessments actionable. 

Suggested Audience: The suggested audience for this session includes collaborative groups, Forest Service staff, and partners and alumni of CFLR Programs.

To register, click here.

One of the best steps you can take to secure your land legacy is to proactively plan for succession. Join SFLR Roanoke Cooperative and North Carolina State University Extension Forestry for a 2-Day Webinar on Farm and Forestland Succession Planning. Extension professionals will guide landowners through a succession planning template that will assist them in developing a succession plan to keep land in the family. Register for both days here.

Led by a new generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs and supported, in part, by changes in federal government policy, clean energy development on Native American reservations is accelerating. At the same time, some Native nations that rely heavily on fossil fuel production are facing difficult questions about the future of those industries. How are each of these trends affecting broader economic development goals across Native American communities in the United States, and what are the implications for the future? This webinar will explore these issues, their environmental implications, and more—featuring leading experts on tribal energy and economic development policy. Click here to register.

Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges

Applying Wood-Based Biochar to Reduce Nutrient Leaching and Results from Biochar Application at a CT Vegetable Farm

PennState Extension Ukraine Series: Forest and the Frontlines

Tree Improvement 101 - Module 4: Employing Tree Improvement Concepts for Resistance Breeding

PennState Extension Ukraine Series: The Future of the Forests in Ukraine: A Discussion

Join Dr. Alex C. Wiedenhoeft from the Forest Products Laboratory and John Mahoney from Street Tree Revival to learn how to incorporate wood anatomy in your sales and marketing strategy, while elevating awareness of the value, significance, and opportunity for urban wood utilization. Click here to learn more and register.

Roger Pittman, president of Triangle Pond Management, and Caleb Hopkins, fisheries manager, are presenting about pond design and construction considerations, stocking ponds and harvesting, maintaining balanced fish populations, and common pond management problems and how to solve them! To learn more and register, click here.

SAF Forest Pollinators Webinar Series: The Role of Management in Structuring Pollinator Communities of Forested Landscapes in the Eastern United States

Communication professionals and fire practitioners with significant media experience will discuss challenges and success in communicating about fire through media outlets. Panelists will share their experiences and provide suggestions for those looking to begin or improve communication through various forms of media. Click here to learn more and register.

SAF Urban Wood Network Webinar Series: Marketing and Advertising your Urban Wood Operation and Opportunities

From large-scale wildfires to smaller incidents connected to complex social issues; crises take many forms and present unique communications challenges. Panelists will discuss how conservation organizations and fire practitioners can prepare for hard times and provide suggestions for how to proceed if and when they happen. Click here to learn more and register.

SAF Forest Pollinator Webinar Series: Effects of Landscape Context, Tree Composition, and Fires History on Forest Pollinator Diversity across the Southeastern United States

SAF Urban Wood Network Webinar Series: Different Materials to Incorporate into Urban Wood

SAF Forest Pollinator Webinar Series: Pollinators in the Woods? The Place of Wild Bees in a Changing Forested Landscape

2024 Designation Cycle Sentinel Landscapes Spotlight

SAF Urban Wood Network Webinar Series: Second Life of an Urban Tree - Work Competitively in Collaboration

SAF Forest Pollinator Webinar Series: Restoring Bee Communities in Harvested Forests

SAF Urban Wood Network Webinar Series: Urban Wood and Climate

SAF Forest Pollinator Webinar Series: Bringing Forest Ecology to Bumble Bee Conservation

AICUZ and REPI Partnerships for Enhanced Land Protection

SAF Urban Wood Network Webinar Series: Funding, Grants, and Investors

Navigating Military Readiness Through Responsible Project Execution

SAF Urban Wood Network Webinar Series: USRW Standards

2024 Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund Request for Proposals

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has today announced the release of the 2024 Request for Proposals under the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund. This request for proposals (RFP) expects to award approximately $4.2 million in federal and private sector funding in support of projects that address the following priorities within the program boundary: Restore, enhance and maintain bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands; Implement conservation practices on working agricultural lands; Promote aquatic connectivity. Proposals are due Thursday, April 25, 2024 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact Zack Bernstein (zachary.bernstein@nfwf.org), Jon Scott (jonathan.scott@nfwf.org), or Sarah Vest (sarah.vest@nfwf.org).

USDA Announces New Forest Landowner Support Funding for Tribes

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently announced that the Forest Service will have at least $20 million from the Inflation Reduction Act available to federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native corporations and villages. The goal of this funding is to help recipients overcome barriers to accessing private markets for forest resilience or climate mitigation. Eligible applicants are federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native corporations and villages, and tribal organizations as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S. Code § 5304). Tribal leaders who are interested in this opportunity are encouraged to attend a live webinar on March 6, 2024 from 2:00-3:00 pm EST. Advanced registration is required for this webinar. Eligible applicants may each submit one proposal request for up to $20 million. Proposals are due by August 21, 2024. Learn more and apply here. To register for the webinar, click here.

Forest Protection Chief (Georgia Forestry Commission)

Job Summary: Oversees the day-to-day management and operations of the Forest Protection Department and all related activities across the state, including the management, and monitoring of Emergency Response, Aviation Operations, Response Centers (dispatch), Expanded Dispatch, Rural Fire Defense, Training, Wildfire Mitigation and Prevention, Prescribed Fire, and Georgia’s Incident Management Team(s). Ensures activities in these areas are effective and efficient while complying with all federal and state laws, regulations, and policies as well as all agency guidelines and policies.  Supervises staff members while coordinating with all Department Chiefs. Participates in the Executive Leadership Team while operating under the guidance of the Director’s Office. To learn more and apply, click here. Posting End Date: May 10, 2024.

Community Forestry & Arboriculture Faculty Position (UGA)

The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position in Community Forestry & Arboriculture. The position is at the Assistant or Associate Professor level with a 70% outreach, 25% instruction, and 5% university and professional service appointment. Terms of the appointment as 9 or 12 month are negotiable. Successful candidates will be part of the Community Forestry and Arboriculture (COFA) faculty group. Individuals with expertise in the following academic areas relative to natural resources management in the urban context are encouraged to apply: urban forestry, arboriculture, tree biology, tree physiology, tree biomechanics, plant health care, urban ecology, and green infrastructure. Review of applications will begin on May 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Learn more and apply here.

Wildland Fire Training Specialist at Tall Timbers Research Station 

Tall Timbers Research Station near Tallahassee, FL is hiring a Wildland Fire Training Specialist Position. This is a full-time salaried, term position with Tall Timbers supported by a USFS WRR Grant, and will take the lead for the Regional Virtual Prescribed Fire Training Coordination Center, responsible for expanding and building upon the work being implemented by the current Northeast-Midwest Regional Fire Training position. To apply to this position, submit a resume and cover letter explaining why you are the best applicant for the job to: Zachary Prusak (zprusak@talltimbers.org) on or before April 31, 2024. Find more information here. 

Forest Health Monitoring Analyst/Asst. Professor (NSCU)

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) invites applications for a 12-month, professional track Assistant Research Professor. The primary responsibility is performing and reporting national assessments of forest ecosystem health. To accomplish this, the incumbent will serve as a technical coordinator, editor, and have collaborative decision-making responsibility on technical and research aspects in the production of national forest health assessments. To learn more and apply, click here.

Private Lands Wildlife Forester (West Virginia)

The wildlife forester will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of biologists, foresters, soil conservationists, and others working across West Virginia to address resource concerns and enhance forests on non-industrial private forestland. This project is being coordinated by Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV) staff, who are employees of ABC. Supervision, daily direction, training, and support will be provided by AMJV and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff. The field foresters and associated activities are supported with funds from NRCS and ABC. To learn more and apply, click here.

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

2024 Virginia Forestry Summit

Biennial Conference of University Education in Natural Resources

Georgia Forests & Water Forum

Come see 400 silvopasture trees installed with innovative protection methods on a commercial-scale grass-fed cattle farm. Tour includes an in-depth look at how the system works, including challenges with livestock, maintenance, and funding. Discussion will also include silvopasture applications in hog, chicken, and sheep operations. Afterwards, there’ll be a networking session aimed at connecting producers with natural resource professionals and the programs they offer. Click here to learn more and register.

2024 ANREP Biennial National Conference

Heirs Property Summit

2024 PLT-WET-WILD Joint Conference

Growing Our Future Annual Forestry Meeting

Join SFI in Atlanta, Georgia, June 4-7 for the 2024 SFI Annual Conference, with the theme "Forests for the Future," to learn about and discuss nature and community grown solutions. We have impactful sessions covering innovation in the sector, global supply chains including EUDR, mass timber, species recovery, urban and community forestry, Indigenous relations, career pathways, and much more! To register, click here.

NDA Property Design and Hunting Setups

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

2024 National Conference of Private Forest Landowners

Heirs Property Summit

Great Plains Fire Summit 2024

32nd Annual NAISMA Conference

International Conference on Chemicals and Products from Renewable Carbon

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) stands as a burgeoning industry in the southern United States, capitalizing on the abundant presence of southern pine and other softwoods found in the region. The utilization of CLT offers a myriad of economic and environmental advantages across various sectors of the supply chain, benefiting stakeholders ranging from landowners and foresters to developers, contractors, architects, and engineers.

Discover more about this innovative construction material and other sustainable mass timber products at this Auburn University-hosted CLT conference. Click here to learn more and register.

ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services

38th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment EXPO