Forest Sciences Seminar

The Changing Role of Fire in Kentucky’s Forest Ecosystems

FOR 770 & FOR 620: (Graduate Students)

FOR 599: (Undergraduates with Instructor Approval)

Class Schedule

Guest Lecture: 4 to 5 pm on Thursday (FOR 620 or FOR 599: 1 credit)Discussion: 5 to 6 pm on Thursday (FOR 770 or FOR 599: 1 credit)

Program Objective

Prehistoric evidence demonstrates that fire has been a regulating force in Kentucky’s forests for millennia. Nonetheless, many ecological, sociological and institutional issues must be considered before widespread return of fire to natural systems can be widely implemented. This program invites students and natural resource scientists and managers to discuss the challenges of managing prescribed fire in Kentucky’s forests with local and national experts in various aspects of forest and fire management.

Invited Speakers

Jim Vose (Feb. 7)
Fire in the Mountains: Consequences of it Exclusion and Use
Forest Ecosystem Researcher, USFS Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, Otto, NC
http://flynne.ecology.uga.edu/

Cecil Ison (Feb. 14)
Ashes from the past: Anthropogenic Fire in Shaping the Eastern Woodlands
Forest Anthropologist, USFS Daniel Boone NF
For his bio click here

Paul Gobster (Feb. 21)
Public Responses to Fire in the Context of Ecosystem Restoration and Wildland Fuel Reduction
Research Social Scientist, USFS North Central Research Station, Evanston, IL

Jeff Sole (Feb. 28)
Ecologist and Stewardship Director, The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky

Betty Higgins (Mar. 7)
District Ranger, Daniel Boone NF & McCreary County Fire Wise Council
http://www.firewise.org/communities

Bernie Andersen (Mar. 21)
Kentucky Division of Forestry, Fire Management Chief

Kentucky Landowner Round Table (Mar. 28 Tentative)

Field Trip (Saturday Mar. 30 Tentative)

Jonathan Kusel (April 11)
Rural Sociologist, Forest Community Research, Taylorsville, CA

This seminar made possible by a grant from the Laird Norton Endowment Foundation
http://www.lairdnorton.org/

Program Contacts Chuck Rhoades¹ or Mary Arthur², Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY(859) 257-6359¹ccrhoa2@uky.edu or (859) 257-2852²marthur@uky.edu