Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Conference Facilitator: Mike Allen, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC)

12:45 - 1:45pm

Opening/Welcome: Tim Breault, FFWCC

Keynote Speaker: Shane Mahoney, Executive Director, Institute of Biodiversity, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador; Executive Director of Sustainable Development and Strategic Science, Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

"North American Wildlife Model: Implications for Management of Public Lands"

PRESCRIBED FIRE

1:45 – 3:05pm

Ecological Effects
An overview of the dynamic effects of prescribed fire regimes on ecological processes and their impacts on plant communities. How fire shapes size/age structure, species composition and distribution of plants.

Moderator: Dennis Hardin, Division of Forestry (DOF)

Speakers:

• Bob Mitchell, Jones Ecological Research Center "Fire Effects on Trees and Silviculture" (2.4M)

• Kevin Robertson, Tall Timbers "Fire Effects on Soil"

• Ken Outcalt, US Forest Service (USFS) “Cumulative Effects of Fire Regime on the Understory Community of Coastal Plain Pine Forests” (5.5M)

• Eric Menges, Archbold Biological Station “Effects of Fire on Florida's Rare Plants and Implications for Informed Land Management”

3:05 - 3:20pm: Refreshment Break

3:20 – 4:00pm

Tools for Prescribed Burning
A look at the latest tools, technology and improved products to enhance prescribed burning safety and efficacy including the use of internet-based, computer technology and fire weather forecasting; what’s new, what works and how to apply it.

Moderator: Steve Miller,
St. Johns River Water Management District

Speakers:

• Rosi Mulholland, Florida Park Service “New Gadgets and Weather Tools” (4.0M)

• Deborah Hanley, Division of Forestry (DOF) “Smoke Management Tracking Tools” (633K)

4:00 – 5:20pm

Approaches to Prescribed Burning
Review of training resources, methods of managing liability associated with prescribed burning, legal considerations, and a case study/evaluation of contract burning on conservation lands.

Moderator: Scott Sanders, FFWCC

Speakers:

• Doug Williams, Wildlands Fire Service “Contracting vs. Internal Agency” (2.7M)

• Tyler Macmillan, Northwest Florida Water Management District “Constructing a Contract for Prescribed Burning”

• Walt Thomson, The Nature Conservancy “Implementing Prescribed Fire Programs: What are the Risks”

• Steve Miller, St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) “Using Seasonal Contractors to Augment Prescribed Burning Capability” (1.7M)

5:20 – 5:50pm

Prescribed Fire Q&A

Moderator: Dennis Hardin, DOF

5:50 - 7:00pm “Toys and Us” Reception (outside equipment display, hor d’oeuvrs and beverages)

Thursday, June 21, 2007

7:15 - 8:15am Light Breakfast (included)

8:15 - 8:45am

Opening Speaker: Mark Glisson, DEP State Lands “Land Management in Florida, Changes Through the Decades”

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

8:45 – 9:45am

Practical application of herbicides, biological controls, and machinery for vegetation management objectives.
A series of case studies evaluating the application of chemical and mechanical treatments to mimic natural disturbances, control invasive plants and efficiently achieve desirable results.

Moderator: Carl Petrick, US Forest Service

Speakers:

• James Cuda, University of Florida (UF) “Biological Control and Vegetation Management“ (3.1M)

• Jeff Hutchinson, University of Florida (UF) “Evaluation of Aerial Herbicide Application for Reduction of Woody Vegetation in a Herbaceous Marsh.” (1.6M)

• Bert Trammell, South Florida Water Management District’s DuPuis Reserve “Implementing Structural Change in South Florida Flatwoods” (4.6M)

• Eric Menges, Archbold Biological Station “Review of Mechanical, Herbicide, and Fire Effects for Restoration of Long-unburned Florida Uplands”

9:45 – 10:15am Refreshment Break

10:15 – 10:55am

Practical application of herbicides and machinery for vegetation management objectives.

Speakers:

• Randy Sleister, Volusia County “Mechanical Management of Scrub in Volusia County” (5.9M)

• Janet Hinchee, Seminole Ranger District “Past and Evolving Use of Roller Drum Chopping on the Ocala National Forest” (6.0M)

10:55am to 11:55am

Ecological Forestry & Silviculture
Site sensitive forestry used as an ecological tool to rejuvenate woodlands, stimulate ground cover, and protect fragile features while minimizing post-harvest clean-up and repair.

Moderator: Steve Jennings, DOF

Speakers:

• Bob Simons, Consultant “Forestry With Wildlife” (9.2M)

• Eric Jokela, UF School of Forest Resources “Development of Uneven-aged Structure in Southern Pine Stands: Conversion Opportunities Using Even-aged Stands in Florida”

• Rhett Johnson, Longleaf Alliance "Regeneration Options for Longleaf Pine" (5.3M)

12:00 – 1:30pm Lunch (included)

1:30 – 2:10pm

Ecological Forestry & Silviculture

• Steve Jack, Jones Ecological Center “ Preserving Conservation Values: Operational Considerations to Minimize Impacts” (2.2M)

• Jimmy Roberts, Division of Forestry “Division of Forestry Other Public Lands Program” (4.6M)

2:10 – 2:50pm

Ground Cover Restoration
A-B-Cs for restoring agriculturally disturbed lands to conditions more representative of natural plant communities; new techniques for eradicating pasture grasses, collecting native seed stock, and preparing and planting native seed on lands slated for restoration.

Moderator: Bill Helfferich,
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

• Stefanie Nagid, FFWCC “In the Beginning, There was Planning” (1.9M)

• Jean McCollom, FFWCC “Groundcover Restoration at Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area, Hendry County, Project Overview” (18M)

2:50 – 3:15pm Refreshment Break

3:20 – 4:20pm

Ground Cover Restoration

Speakers:

• Chris Matson, Disney Wilderness Preserve “Techniques and Their Consequences Related to Bahiagrass Removal” (4.7M)

• Mark Atwater, Weed Control Unlimited, Inc., "Herbicide Application Techniques for Control of Cogon Grass and Noxious Pasture Grasses Such As Bahia and Bermuda" (1.7M)

• Mary Barnwell, SWFWMD “Groundcover Restoration From Start to Finish”

4:20 – 4:50pm

Vegetation Management Needs Assessment Q&A

Moderator: Bill Helfferich, SFWMD

7:00 – 9:00pm Poolside Casual Dinner and Entertainment by Grant Livingston and Mindy Simmons (included)

Friday, June 22, 2007

7:15 - 8:15am Light Breakfast (included)

MONITORING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

8:15-8:45am

Opening Speaker: Doria Gordon, The Nature Conservancy “Fundamentals of Vegetation Monitoring” (1.5M)

8:45 – 9:25am

Prescribed Fire
Fire frequency, intensity, and seasonality are major driving factors that help shape plant community structure and composition. Various approaches for quantifying and monitoring the effects of prescribing burn programs on conservation lands will be discussed.

Moderator: Jim Murrian, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Speakers:

• Jim Cox, Tall Timbers “Monitoring Prescribed Burning on Public Lands in Florida” (2.9M)

• Zachary Prusak, The Nature Conservancy “The Nature Conservancy's Fire Monitoring Protocol in Florida” (2.0M)

9:25 – 9:45am Refreshment Break

9:45 – 10:45am

Adaptive Management
How important is monitoring vegetation responses to specific management treatments? Experts discuss experimental design, statistical validity, and the cost-benefits of initiating a vegetation monitoring program.

Moderator: Jim Murrian, TNC

Speakers:

• George Tanner, University of Florida “Adaptive Management on Eglin Air Force Base” (6.0M)

• Kathleen Swanson, FFWCC “Objective-based Vegetation Monitoring” (3.3M)

• Ray Mojica, Brevard County “Photo-monitoring in a Digital World” (5.9M)

10:45 – 11:30am

Monitoring and Information Technology Q&A

Moderator: Jim Murrian, TNC