Wisconsin Forestry Center

Fire History Mini-Series: Part III

Heterogeneous spatial patterns are central to forest function and resilience, yet old-growth forests – especially dry, fire-adapted types – are rare in the U.S. Lake States. This talk presents results from a Wisconsin study examining how silviculture and prescribed fire can restore forest structure, function, and reduce wildfire risk. Using old-growth red pine stands in Minnesota and Wisconsin as references, our speaker analyzed canopy characteristics and spatial tree patterns to guide management prescriptions. Results provide both a reference condition and practical framework for restoring and maintaining spatially complex red pine forests across the Lake States.

Join us as we discuss realigning ecosystems after disturbance and other practical applications of Strategy 10 from The Adaptation Workbook created by the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS). Laura Slavsky a Resilience Forester at The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota will discuss her work planning and directing post-fire reforestation efforts in Northeastern Minnesota.

This webinar series explores practical approaches to climate adaptation with an emphasis on current examples of adaptation in action. Each webinar highlights a key adaptation strategy, and connects science with on-the-ground management practices. Participants will not only learn about the theory of adaptation but also hear from forest managers grappling with climate risk and distilling the best available science into “boots on the ground” forest management. Our goal is to provide foresters, land managers, and conservation professionals with tools and examples of how to strengthen resilience and the long-term health and sustainability of forest ecosystems.

In this episode of Wood & Iron, Oregon logger and Associated Oregon Loggers president Jeff Plikat shares stories from a lifetime in the woods, from learning the trade as a kid to running high-tech tether logging operations and leading advocacy efforts for the timber industry. Blake, Jared, and Jeff dig into the realities of modern logging—equipment costs, workforce challenges, safety, and why taking care of good people is the key to keeping the industry strong.

Wood & Iron is a new podcast that explores the needs and challenges of today’s logger. Join our hosts as they explores business operation, policy navigation, and the future of logging with loggers from the Midwest to the West. The goal of Wood & Iron is to promote a successful and sustainable logging workforce in our forested states by offering relevant and timely information that you can listen to during your time in the cab.

Good silviculture isn’t just about knowing the science—it’s about building strong partnerships. One of the most critical relationships in forestry is the collaboration between foresters and loggers. Successfully marking a timber sale, for instance, means understanding not only the forest but also the equipment and capabilities that will bring the prescription to life. In this episode of SilviCast, we dive into the world of modern logging equipment used across eastern North America. Joined by Carl Lockhart, Forestry Products Consultant with John Deere, we explore how today’s machines shape on-the-ground decisions—and why aligning knowledge between planning and execution is key to getting silviculture right.