Wisconsin Forestry Center

Social Science Mini-Series: Part II

We face many obstacles in improving fire management: capacity and resources that constrain what we can accomplish, challenging policy environments, and increasingly narrow weather windows are just a few. The solutions to these barriers are nuanced and local, but united by a common theme – the need to work together. This webinar will cover case studies from around the Fire Learning Network that show how focusing first on building trust and relationships leads to authentic, sustained partnerships that are capable of making fundamental change for the better in how we live and work with fire.

Photo Credit: Jose Luis Dulce

Black locust doesn’t have many fans among foresters in North America. It’s often criticized for growing crooked, spreading aggressively, and producing poor-quality stems. But is the problem really the tree, or is it how we’ve been growing it? In this episode, Zsolt Keserű, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Plantation Forestry and Senior Research Fellow at the Hungarian Forest Research Institute, University of Sopron, shares how decades of European research and silvicultural innovation have made it possible to grow straight, high-quality black locust timber. Join us for this episode of SilviCast as we talk about the genetics and management practices behind successful black locust plantations, why the species has become such an important hardwood in parts of Europe, and what North American foresters can learn from that experience. If you’ve written off black locust, this conversation might make you take a second look.

Join forestry professionals, researchers, and land management experts for an engaging field-based workshop exploring the role of prescribed fire in Wisconsin’s forests. Participants will travel by bus to active management sites for a guided outdoor tour featuring discussions on how prescribed fire is planned and implemented. We will discuss fire’s historical and modern uses in forest management, focusing on how it provides oak regeneration, wildlife habitat, native plants, and pollinators.

During the field tour, experts from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Madison Extension Forestry, UW-Stevens Point, and the American Bird Conservancy will share real-world examples and answer questions about incorporating prescribed fire into sustainable forest management plans. Following the tour, participants will return for a provided lunch and a presentation from the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, along with discussion of key lessons learned and opportunities for future fire management. 

What does it take to grow a logging business from a chainsaw and skidder into a modern cut-to-length operation? In the July episode of Wood & Iron, Jim Wilson of Wilson Forestry joins us live from the cab to share his journey from forestry graduate to business owner. He discusses the importance of management, merchandising, and making the most of every tree in today’s challenging markets. Jim also shares lessons learned from growing his company, investing in equipment, training the next generation of operators, and why combining forestry knowledge with hands-on logging experience is key to the future of sustainable forest management.