In-person Professional Development Workshop
Strategies for Creating Resilient Driftless Forests
Oct. 21, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Join fellow foresters and natural resource professionals for a field workshop exploring climate-adapted forest management in Wisconsin’s driftless region. As a companion to the Adaptation in Action: Forest Management Strategies for a Changing Climate webinar series, this workshop provides an opportunity to see adaptation strategies applied on the ground and hear directly from the practitioners putting them into practice. Participants will learn about approaches for increasing forest resilience and come away with practical ideas they can apply to support healthy, sustainable forests in a changing climate.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Workshop fee: $95, includes lunch.
Register NowSpace is limited. Registration closes October 14, 2026 or when full.
Workshop Information
The training will be a mixture of indoors and outdoors and participants can expect to walk a fair distance over uneven terrain or off-trail. We encourage you to wear long pants and sturdy, waterproof footwear, as the ground may be muddy, icy, wet, or slippery. Please dress appropriately as we will be heading outside rain or shine. Please note that the workshop agenda may be subject to change.
This workshop is designed for foresters, restoration practitioners, land managers, and natural resource professionals, but anyone is welcome to attend.
Learning Outcomes
- Assess forest stand conditions and climate vulnerabilities to support forest management decisions.
- Evaluate climate-adapted silvicultural practices, including regeneration strategies and assisted migration, for a range of management objectives.
- Compare forest management approaches used to build resilience in working forests and research demonstration sites.
- Identify practical forest management strategies that can be incorporated into management plans to improve forest resilience and sustain ecosystem services in a changing climate.
Continuing Education Credit
This workshop has been pre-approved for the following:
- 6.5 Wisconsin DNR Cooperating Forester CEUs
- 5.5 Society of American Foresters (SAF) Cat. 1 CFEs
- 5.5 Association of Consulting Foresters CFEs
- 4.0 Wisconsin Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) CEUs
We are seeking pre-approval for the following:
- The Wildlife Society (TWS) Cat. 1 CEUs
- Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) CECs
Workshop Instructors
Devesh Bahuguna
Forest Ecology and Silviculture Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry
Devesh Bahuguna is a forest ecology and silviculture specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources based out of Madison, WI. Since joining the WDNR in 2023, he works with the Silviculture Team on statewide forest ecology and silviculture issues. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Prior to moving to Wisconsin, Devesh spent 14 years working across the Pacific Northwest, where his research and field experience in temperate rainforests focused on windthrow research, timber appraisal and valuation, and forest inventory and assessment. In his spare time, Devesh enjoys gardening and exploring new places.
Miranda Thomas Curzon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology, Iowa State University
Dr. Miranda Thomas Curzon is an Associate Professor in the Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department at Iowa State University. She holds a M.S. from the University of Vermont and a Ph.D. in from the University of Minnesota. Her research addresses many topics in silviculture relevant to the northern forest of the U.S. and Canada and forests across the Central Hardwood Forest Region with a focus on climate adaptation and ecological silviculture.
Brad Hutnik
Forest Ecologist/Silviculturist, Division of Forestry – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Co-Host of SilviCast
Brad Hutnik is a forest ecologist / silviculturist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Since 2012, Brad has served as a member of the WDNR Silviculture Team. As such, Brad currently works statewide on forest ecology and silviculture issues and has been involved with prescribed fire as a management tool throughout his career. Brad previously served as the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway forester (2002-2012) and worked as a staff forester at Clark Forestry, Inc. (1997-2002). Brad received a bachelor’s degree in forest management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1997. He is a Certified Silviculturist (USDA-FS) and co-host of UWSP’s SilviCast podcast.
mARTHA sAMPLE
Climate Adaptation Specialist, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Martha is a Climate Adaptation Specialist with the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) based at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Her position focuses on developing tools and resources for forest managers to support adaptation to changing climate and disturbance regimes.
Thank you!
This series is possible through a grant from the Wisconsin SFI® Implementation Committee. The mission of the Wisconsin SFI® Implementation Committee (WI SIC) is to promote and enhance SFI and sustainable forestry practices within Wisconsin through grassroots collaboration with stakeholders, partners, and those who benefit from managed forests.
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) is a statewide collaboration of scientists and stakeholders formed as a partnership between UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. WICCI’s goals are to evaluate climate change impacts on Wisconsin and foster solutions.
Meet Your Hosts
Wisconsin Forestry Center
The Wisconsin Forestry Center (WFC) is dedicated to serving the needs of Wisconsin’s forestry community through partner-driven professional and workforce development, applied research, and community outreach initiatives that promote vibrant, sustainable forests and forest-based economies.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin’s 17 million acres of forestlands and millions of urban trees significantly enhance the quality of life in our state. The Wisconsin DNR dedicates itself to the sustainable management and protection of this precious resource so that it continues to provide a host of ecological, economic and social benefits for years to come. Learn about Wisconsin forestry by visiting the Division of Forestry publications catalog, external news site and forestry videos.