Working with Bats and Forestry Workshop - Cullman - 11/28

 Learn about bats in Alabama forests, how to beneficially manage forests for bats, and state and federal regulations for bats.

Who Should Attend : Wildlife Biologists, Foresters, Procurement Foresters, Timber Buyers, Loggers, Natural Resources Professionals , Landowners and Students with responsibilities for forest land management.

Objectives of Workshop:  Objectives of this workshop are to raise awareness about forest bats while providing management tools to natural resource professionals, specifically

 Bats of Alabama and their benefits.

 Learning about BMPs for Bats (silviculture, timber harvesting and fire)

 Management Implications /Listed Bat Consultation and Management recommendations.

 Assessing habitat suitability for bats.

Class will have an afternoon field session, brief light walking may be required.

PLM and CFE credits for foresters & wildlife biologist will be offered

Registration is required.  Contact Brad Nail for more information - bnail@alaforestry.org

Online registration:  REGISTER

Fire Restrictions on National Forests in Alabama Due to Fire Danger

 NEWS RELEASE -

USDA Forest Service Places Public Fire Restrictions in Alabama’s National Forests

 

Montgomery, Ala. (October 30, 2023) —  The USDA Forest Service is alerting all forest visitors to be aware of specific fire restrictions placed in Alabama’s federal lands – Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega and Tuskegee National Forests.  Degrading fire hazard conditions have prompted Acting Forest Supervisor Timothy Spivey to sign a forest closure order to restrict the public from using fire or building campfires on the national forests except those within developed recreation areas that are confined to receptacles designed for fires.  Commercially available fuel stoves (camp stoves) and backpacking stoves are excluded from the restriction.  Forest Service officials are also prohibiting possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or pyrotechnic device.  The following public restrictions are effective on Oct. 30, 2023, and will remain in effect until November 30, 2023, or terminated by a Forest Supervisor.

Alabama’s Fire Alert Reinstated to Include All 67 Counties

 News Release from the Alabama Forestry Commission, 10/24/23

Alabama’s Fire Alert Reinstated to Include All 67 Counties

Effective immediately, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has re-issued a Fire Alert for all 67 counties in the state. In the 32 northern counties (roughly north of Interstate 20), no burn permits will be issued. In the 35 southern counties (south of Interstate 20), certified prescribed burn managers will have the option to obtain a one-day burn permit. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a Class B misdemeanor.

During the past seven days, AFC wildland firefighters have responded to 111 wildfires that scorched more than 1,881 acres of forestland in Alabama. Drought conditions are expected to worsen as no rain is forecast for the next week, and October is historically the state's driest month. This extremely dry weather creates a greater-than-average potential for outdoor fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer – and more firefighting resources – to contain and ultimately control.

To report a wildfire, call the Alabama Forestry Commission at (800) 392-5679. For more information on the current wildfire situation in the state or any other forestry-related issues, contact your local AFC office or visit the agency website at www.forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Fire/Totals.aspx  The Alabama Forestry Commission is the state agency committed to protecting Alabama’s invaluable forest assets as well as its citizens.

Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) Outdoor Classroom Reaches Winston County Sixth Graders

About 250 Winston County sixth graders attended the Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) Outdoor Classroom event.  FAWN is an annual event raising youth awareness of Alabama's abundant natural resources and their conservation.  This year it was held at Matt Hannah's Treasure Forest in Arley on October 17 and 18.  All Winston County schools participated, including Lynn, Haleyville, Meek, Addison and Double Springs.  

This year students visited learning stations covering a wide range of natural resources topics.  Stations included wildlife identification, forest management, water quality and watersheds, aquatic life, prescribed burning, wildfire and FIREWISE communities, bee-keeping and pollinators.

FAWN is a program of the Winston County Natural Resources Council.  Numerous agencies, organizations and individuals come together to implement the outdoor classroom event.  

Financial sponsors of FAWN this year include Winston County Commission through the Forest Service Secure Rural Schools program, Grayson Lumber Company, and Winston County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Funds are used for transportation and supplies and made it possible to provide all students with a small backpack, school supplies, reusable water bottle and a t-shirt.  The WCNRC thanks Matt Hannah for hosting the event.  Organizations contributing time and expertise include the WCNRC, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Forestry Commission, US Forest Service, Winston County Beekeepers, Camp McDowell, Winston County EMA, Arley Volunteer Fire Department, and Winston County schools.  A big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making FAWN successful and informative.

National Forest Products Week - Grant Opportunities for wood innovation grants

 It's National Forest Products Week!  Learn more about the Presidential Proclamation here.

The US Forest Service opened the 2024 application period for three wood innovation grants.  To learn more please visit: Wood Innovations - US Forest Service.

(Photo credit: US Forest Service)

The Wood Innovations Grant has funds to support projects that will substantially expand and accelerate wood products and wood energy markets throughout the United States.  The intent is to stimulate, expand, and support U.S. wood products and wood energy markets to support long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands while enhancing the economic and environmental health of communities.

The Community Wood Grant Program has funds to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build or expand an innovative wood product facility. This grant program supports forest health and stimulates local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. 

The Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program has funds to facilities that purchase and process byproducts from ecosystem restoration projects in areas at risk of unnaturally severe wildfire or insect or disease infestation.  The intent is to substantially decrease the cost of conducting restoration projects involving vegetation removal on federal and Tribal lands and expand industry use.. These ecosystem restoration byproducts could include trees and woody biomass harvested through timber sales, thinning, hazardous fuels reduction treatments, or other restoration management activities.

Eligibility for these grants vary, but some do include for-profit entities.  Visit the website full details.

Black Vulture Depredation Webinar

 Black Vulture Depredation Informational Webinar

Date & Time

Oct 27, 2023 11:00 AM  

Description

Alabama Extension and the Lawrence County Natural Resources Council invites you to join us for a 1-hour informational webinar with Leif Stephens, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, who will speak about the Black Vulture Depredation permitting process in Alabama. This is a free program and there will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation. Wildlife professionals, livestock producers, and anyone else with interest or concern in this topic is encouraged to attend. The webinar will be recorded and sent out to those who registered in advance upon the conclusion of the event. You can also watch the live presentation on the Lawrence County Extension Facebook page. For questions, you can reach out to Regional Extension Agent, Kerry Steedley at kes0150@aces.edu.

REGISTER HERE: REGISTER

Invasive Plant ID and Management Workshop scheduled for Double Springs - October 11th

Invasive Plant Identification and Management Workshop

Alabama Cooperative Extension System invites the public to a workshop to learn how to identify invasive plants that are common in Alabama and ways to control them. We will go over the various control options, how to calibrate an herbicide sprayer, and in the afternoon, visit areas in the Bankhead National Forest to see invasive plants growing and areas that have been previously treated.

October 11

9:00 - 3:30 

Lunch is provided but registration is required.

5 PLM and 5 Cat-1 CFE Credits will be available.

Address:
Double Springs Municipal Building
23415 AL-195
Double Springs, AL 35553

Contact:
Kerry Steedley
kes0150@aces.edu
(334) 350-0485

Register and Learn more here.

 

FAWN Planned for 10/17 and 10/18

 FAWN - Forestry Awareness Week Now - outdoor classroom for Winston County 6th graders is scheduled for October 17 and 18 at Matt Hannah's Treasure Forest in Arley.  A walk-through is planned for October 16.  Learn more about the FAWN program here:  FAWN