Wisconsin Forestry Center

Ken Swanstrom of Skookum Logging joins the June podcast to talk about nearly 50 years in Montana’s logging industry. From getting his start on the landing in the 1970s to running his own operation, Ken shares stories from a lifetime in the woods and offers his perspective on how Montana forestry has changed over the decades. The conversation covers shrinking timber harvests, mill closures, forest health, wildfire risk, and the ongoing challenge of keeping logging infrastructure alive while managing forests for future generations. 

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.

What tree begins life looking more like a tuft of grass, survives repeated fires for years on the forest floor, and then suddenly bolts toward the canopy in a remarkable growth spurt? The longleaf pine, of course!

Pinus palustris, also known as longleaf pine, is one of the most unique and ecologically important tree species in North America. Once dominating the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, longleaf pine forests have been reduced to less than 5% of their historic range. Yet these forests remain among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the continent.

In this episode of SilviCast, we explore the fascinating life history of longleaf pine and the silvicultural practices being used to restore these iconic forests. Join us for a conversation with Steve Jack, Executive Director of Boggy Slough Conservation Area, who shares insights from decades of longleaf pine restoration work across the southern United States.

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.