BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Southern Rockies Fire Science Network - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Southern Rockies Fire Science Network X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Southern Rockies Fire Science Network REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20220313T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20221106T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20230312T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20231105T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20240310T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20241103T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20260308T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20261101T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20270314T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20271107T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20220313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20221106T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260303 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260306 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20260108T212904Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T212904Z UID:2323-1772496000-1772755199@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Stewards of the Southwest Summit DESCRIPTION:Formerly known as the New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit \nPlease join us for the 2026 Stewards of the Southwest Summit \nMarch 3rd – 5th\, 2026 \nSanta Ana Star Casino Hotel\, 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Road\, Santa Ana Pueblo\, NM 87004 \nRegister HERE URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/stewards-of-the-southwest-summit/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-08-at-2.25.54-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260207 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260213 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20260108T211636Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T212137Z UID:2320-1770422400-1770940799@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Society For Rangeland Management 79th Annual International Meeting\, Technical Training & Trade Show DESCRIPTION:February 7 – 12 | Monterey\, California
\n\n\nHerd ‘Round the World\nEarly registration rates are available until Jan. 16th. 
After Jan. 16th and once onsite\, all registrations will be at the late-rates.\n\n\n \nRegister HERE URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/society-for-rangeland-management-79th-annual-international-meeting-technical-training-trade-show/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-08-at-2.18.10-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251208 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251216 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20251208T213937Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T214058Z UID:2284-1765152000-1765843199@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Program Coordinator DESCRIPTION:JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: PROGRAM COORDINATOR\nBased at Colorado State University\nFort Collins\, CO\n  \nAPPLY HERE: https://jobs.colostate.edu/postings/169849 \n  \nSouthern Rockies Fire Science Network (SRFSN) is one of the 15 Fire Science Exchanges of the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) that aims to connect people with credible fire science for sound decisions in land management and planning. The SRFSN region includes portions of Colorado\, the eastern half of Utah\, the southern half of Wyoming\, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. To learn more\, visit www.southernrockiesfirescience.org. \n  \nThe Coordinator will develop\, manage\, and deliver programs and projects of the Southern Rockies Fire Science Network. The position will work to transfer fire science knowledge using printed and electronic resources\, live events\, and other networks to share information and deliver actionable science knowledge tailored to key audience. The coordinator will also work to help identify new fire science needs pertinent to the Southern Rockies geography for the JFSP. \nTo be successful the applicant will be highly organized\, detail oriented\, an effective communicator\, able to identify and network with target audiences\, knowledgeable in fire science and land management\, and skilled in science delivery methods. The coordinator will work closely with the PI on program administration\, reporting\, and budget management. \nThis position is funded on two-year grant cycles pending approval and availability of funds from the JFSP program\, with potential to augment funding from additional sources. The successful applicant will work under direction from the SRFSN Principal Investigator and guidance from a steering committee of experts in the region to deliver a program of work. \nRemote locations may be considered if successful candidate can be on campus at least twice a week. \nProposed Annual Salary Range: $65\,000 – $74\,000 \nTo ensure full consideration\, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 12/15/2025 \n  \nRequired Job Qualifications: \n\nM.S. in a natural resource-related ecology and/or management program\, or alternatively a degree in science communication or journalism with a background in natural resources field\nExperience in developing\, administering\, managing\, and/or delivering natural resource-related science communication\, education\, and/or outreach programs\nKnowledge\, experience or expertise in forest and rangeland vegetation ecology and management\, wildland fire ecology\, and/or fuels management in the geographic area served by the Southern Rockies Fire Science Network\nExperience in grant writing\, budget development and administration and tracking of funds\nExperience in creation and management of online information exchange/e-mail platforms and social media outreach and content\nDemonstrated high quality written communication skills\nMust have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.\n\nPreferred Job Qualifications: \n\nDemonstrated experience working with field-based natural resource managers\,\nUnderstanding/familiarity with land management restoration methods (planning\, equipment\, grazing)\, and operational wildland fire response.\nKnowledge of and ability to interpret and synthesize fire science research and monitoring\, especially pertaining to the ecology\, behavior\, management\, and social aspects of fire.\nDemonstrated skills in interpersonal communications\, oral engagement such as tabling displays and information at events\, and public speaking\nWorking knowledge of applying web-based communication tools (e.g.\, webinars\, video-lecture feeds\, social media and listserv management platforms)\nExperience in driving passenger vans and transport vehicles for field and in-person events\nFacilitation training and/or experience in facilitating meetings\, workshops\, or focus groups\nExperience engaging with a variety of stakeholders\, community members\, and interest holders\n\n  \nColorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race\, color\, religion\, age\, sex\, national origin\, disability status\, genetics\, protected veteran status\, sexual orientation\, gender identity or expression. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/job-announcement-program-coordinator/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250930T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20251004T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20250725T143406Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250725T143406Z UID:2106-1759219200-1759597200@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:The 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER2025) DESCRIPTION:About the Conference\n\nSER’s World Conference is an exciting and inspiring biennial gathering of global experts in ecological restoration\, making the 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER2025) the premier venue for those interested in being active members of the global restoration community. \n\n  \nRegistration is Open\nDon’t miss this opportunity to network with leading professionals and connect with others in the global restoration community at this important event that only takes place in North America every 12 years. \n  \nMore Information and Registration URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/the-11th-world-conference-on-ecological-restoration-ser2025/ LOCATION:Denver\, Colorado END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250304 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250307 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20250123T144628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T144628Z UID:1878-1741046400-1741305599@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit DESCRIPTION:Roots for the Future: Strengthening Indigenous-Led Conservation\nInn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino\n287 Carrizo Canyon Rd\, Mescalero\, New Mexico 88340 \nThe annual New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit brings together Tribal foresters\, practitioners\, natural resource managers\, emergency departments\, and experts to center the needs\, challenges\, and success of Tribal forestry and fire management. Join us in 2025 for “Roots for the Future: Strengthening Indigenous-Led Conservation” to find resources and training\, build capacity\, and collaborate in a network that’s focused on the healthy future of Tribal lands. \n The Summit is free for all participants. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/new-mexico-tribal-forest-fire-summit/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-23-at-7.45.13-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250209T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250209T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20250115T195821Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250115T195821Z UID:1872-1739088000-1739120400@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Society For Range Management Annual Meeting DESCRIPTION:Register Now For The 2025 SRM Annual Meeting!\n\n\n\n\n(Register by January 30th to secure the reduced early rates!) \nJoin us in Spokane\, WA.\nFebruary 9-13\, 2025 \n-View the Schedule At A Glance HERE \n-View the 2025 Social and Technical Tour Information HERE \n-View 2025 Room Request Form HERE-Committees and Socials\, submit your request today! URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/society-for-range-management-annual-meeting-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-15-at-12.57.23-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250128T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250128T120000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20250113T151836Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250113T151836Z UID:1854-1738062000-1738065600@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Webinar Series: Human Causes and Human Consequences of Wildfire in the Western United States DESCRIPTION:SAVE THE DATE: January 28\, 29\, 30\, 2025\, 10-11am PST\nHuman causes wildfires series flyer \n\nDay 1: Tuesday\, January 28th\nREGISTER HERE \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInterdisciplinary Understanding and Prediction of Wildfires \nPresenters: Mojtaba Sadegh\, Boise State University; Karen Short\, USDA Forest Service \n  \nUnderstanding of the conditions that contribute to wildfire ignitions and impacts increases capacity to mitigate wildfire risks. The Fire Program Analysis Fire-Occurrence Database (FPA FOD) contains information on the location\, jurisdiction\, discovery time\, cause\, and final size of more than 2 million wildfires from 1992 through 2020. To each of those wildfire records\, we added information on 267 physical\, biological\, social\, and administrative attributes. As we will demonstrate\, these publicly available data can be used to answer numerous questions about the circumstances associated with human- and lightning-caused wildfires. We will share examples of how the enhanced FPA FOD data can support descriptive\, diagnostic\, predictive\, and prescriptive wildfire analytics\, including the development of machine learning models. \n\n\n\nDay 2: Wednesday\, January 29th\nREGISTER HERE \n\n\n\n\nDisproportionate Exposure of Socially Vulnerable Populations to Wildfires \nPresenters: Erica Fleishman\, Oregon State University; Eric Main & Carol Trenga\, Oregon Health Authority \n  \nFrom 2000 through 2021\, nearly half a million people in Oregon\, Washington\, and California lived within the perimeter of a wildfire. And from 2011 through 2021\, the number of people experiencing high social vulnerability to hazardous events who were exposed to wildfire in those states more than tripled compared to the previous decade. As we will detail\, the cause of that inequity varied among the three states. For example\, in California\, the majority of the people exposed to wildfire were living in urban areas\, whereas those exposed in Oregon and Washington largely were rural residents. These data suggest that wildfire preparation and response may be most effective when it is tailored to the needs of individual communities with different risk factors. \n\n\n\nDay 3: Thursday\, January 30th\nREGISTER HERE \n\n\n\n\nSpatial and Temporal Trends in Causes of Human-Ignited Wildfires \nPresenter: John Abatzoglou\, University of California\, Merced \n  \nRed flag warnings (RFWs) are issued to alert management and emergency response agencies of weather conditions that are conducive to extreme wildfire behavior. Issuance of RFWs also can encourage the public to exercise extreme caution with activities that could ignite a wildfire. Among the ignition causes associated with human activity\, some generally reflect short-term behavioral decisions\, whereas others are linked to infrastructure and habitual behaviors. From 2006–2020\, approximately 8% of wildfires across the western United States were discovered on days with RFWs. We discuss our discovery that although the number of human-caused fires was higher on RFW days than on similar days without RFWs\, the warnings appeared to disproportionately reduce the number of ignitions associated with short-term behavioral choices. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/webinar-series-human-causes-and-human-consequences-of-wildfire-in-the-western-united-states/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-13-at-8.18.04 AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241001 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241005 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20240808T150432Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240808T150447Z UID:1831-1727740800-1728086399@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Colorado Wildland Fire Conference 2024 DESCRIPTION:SAVE THE DATES: \nOctober 1 – 4\, 2024 main conference session October 2nd & 3rd; with pre- and post-con workshops and tours October 1st and 4th. \n2024 Conference Location: \nViewline Resort Snowmass\, \n100 Elbert Ln\, Snowmass Village\, CO 81615 \n  \nMore details and registration on the conference website URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/colorado-wildland-fire-conference-2024/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Screenshot-2024-08-08-at-9.03.57 AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240828T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240829T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20250812T143532Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T185813Z UID:2111-1724832000-1724950800@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:2024 Aspen Summit: Smart Management & Culturally-Sustaining Co-Stewardship of Quaking Aspen DESCRIPTION:Summary of Event and Photos\nWorkshop participants discuss differences in aspen genetics\n  \nPurpose\nFrom the mountains of Mexico to the coasts of Newfoundland and the forests of Alaska\, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) can be found across the North American continent. Its broad range makes aspen a cornerstone of North American forests\, providing shelter and food for wildlife\, supporting local communities\, and carrying deep cultural meaning for many people. However\, these forests are changing. Shifting fire regimes\, land use pressure\, and other disturbances are reshaping aspen ecosystems\, prompting an urgent need for renewed scientific\, cultural\, and management attention. As such\, a wide range of stakeholders are seeking to understand the impact of these changes and take effective\, ethical action in response\, including: \n\nScientists\nFederal and state land managers\nTribal Nations\nPrivate landowners\nNon-governmental organizations\n\n  \n \n\nShifting Approaches in Stewardship\nThe Southern Rockies Fire Science and its partners have hosted regular aspen-centered workshops over the years\, with a focus primarily on top-down management and knowledge transfer. While useful\, this approach rarely pulled in the broader mix of voices needed at the table. Today\, many recognize that lasting stewardship means looking beyond the dominant government and academic umbrellas\, and bringing in the perspectives of many different communities. Yet barriers to co-stewardship remain\, including: \n  \n\nInformation gaps– Limited awareness of current science\, best practices\, and management tools\nDisconnected networks– Few opportunities for cross-boundary exchange\, learning\, or relationship-building\nTrust barriers– Historical inequities and differing worldviews have made collaboration difficult\, particularly between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners\n\n  \nTo begin working toward strategic\, culturally sustaining co-stewardship of aspen forests\, the 2024 Colorado Annual Summit aimed to unite people from multiple backgrounds into a space that prioritized: \n\nListening across differences\nBuilding trust\, relationships\, and collaborations\nExchanging knowledge and best practices around quaking aspen forests\nDeveloping conceptual understandings of co-stewardship principles and practices\nCentering Indigenous voices and perspectives\n\n  \n2024 Aspen Summit workshop participants\n\nOrganizers & Attendees\nThe summit was organized by a diverse planning committee representing academic institutions\, Indigenous-led organizations\, and fire science networks. Members included: \n\nBenjamin Wong Blonder\, University of California\, Berkeley\nRoxy Cruz\, University of California\, Berkeley\nJames Calabaza and Mike Martinez\, Trees\, Water & People\nJonathan Coop\, Western Colorado University\nGloria Edwards\, Southern Rockies Fire Science Network and Colorado State University\nPaul Rogers\, Utah State University\, Western Aspen Alliance\n\nThe primary audience for the workshop included individuals engaged in aspen ecology and forest management\, particularly those with decision-making or communication responsibilities. A total of 53 attendees participated\, representing a broad geographic and professional range. Individuals from the United States\, Canada\, and Mexico attended\, representing academic institutions\, government agencies\, Tribal Nations\, and the private sector. Notably\, the workshop welcomed representatives from five federally recognized Tribal Nations and one Canadian First Nation: \n\nLeech Lake Band of Ojibwe\nPueblo of Jemez\nUte Mountain Ute\nJicarilla Apache\nTurtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians\nSamson Cree\, Canadian First Nation\n\n  \nRegina Lopez Whiteskunk\, Ute Mountain Ute member\, addresses workshop participants in opening ceremony\n  \nWorkshop Summary\nThe aspen summit took place over two days and three nights\, beginning the evening of August 27\, 2024\, at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic\, Colorado\, within the Gunnison National Forest. Now home solely to the field station\, Gothic features historic cabins\, meeting spaces\, and a shared dining hall. Once a silver and lead mining town established by white settlers\, Gothic sits within the ancestral homeland of the Ute people\, whose deep connection to the land continues despite their forced removal in the 19th century (Haase 1971; Jones 2019). This enduring relationship set the tone for the gathering\, opening with an Indigenous-led ceremony and recognition of place. \nGrounded in this setting\, the summit gathered participants around two guiding themes: \n\nSustaining relationships between forests and people\nPromoting forest resilience in a time of rapid environmental change\n\nThe program unfolded through a blend of shared readings and virtual conversations that began before arrival\, then deepened on-site through discussion panels and field sessions. Indigenous-led opening and closing ceremonies framed the event\, reminding participants that this was not just a workshop about managing aspen but a part of a larger\, living story of stewardship. \n\nOpening Ceremony\nThe gathering began with a prayer offered by Regina Lopez Whiteskunk of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Cross-Cultural Programs Director with the Montezuma Land Conservatory\, grounding participants in the cultural and historical significance of the land beneath their feet. Building on that foundation\, organizers outlined the workshop’s goals: to strengthen trust and collaboration\, to exchange knowledge and experiences about Colorado’s aspen ecology and the challenges it faces\, and to ensure Indigenous voices and perspectives were at the center of the conversation. \n  \nWorkshop was held at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic\, Colorado\, Regina Lopez Whiteskunk opens workshop with ceremonial prayer\n\nTheme I: Sustaining Relationships Between Forests and People\nCo-Stewardship for Biodiversity Panel\nThe purpose of this  panel was to develop a deeper understanding on the meaning of co-stewardship for biodiversity and how to incorporate co-stewardship into management practice. Panelists in the discussion included: \n\nJames Calabaza\, Trees Water and People (moderator)\nCamille Stevens-Rumann\, fire ecologist at Colorado State University\nKristin Waring\, silviculturist at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff)\nGarret Altman\, Santa Clara Pueblo\, western restoration program manager at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.\nSerra Hoagland\, national program lead at Tribal Research within the U.S. Forest Service\nKeara Lightning\, Samson Cree Nation\, wildfire analytics at University of Alberta\n\nTwo key questions were discussed: \n\nCan you identify any cases where you have seen co-stewardship approaches be successful\, and if not\, why not?\nHow do you think co-stewardship methodologies can support aspen? How can research inform co-stewardship methodologies?\n\nThe resulting discussion highlighted both the promise and complexity of implementing collaborative\, culturally grounded forest stewardship. Hopeful examples of co-management that were offered included projects that involved restoring habitats after fire\, connecting forest patches for wildlife\, and renewing ecosystems through tree canopy recovery. Additionally\, a central theme was the need to reconceptualize biodiversity to include humans as part of the ecosystem\, particularly through Indigenous knowledge (IK) that recognize longstanding relationships with the land. Panelists emphasized that successful co-stewardship must move beyond bureaucratic frameworks and crisis-response models\, which often exclude Indigenous voices and perspectives.  Co-stewardship must instead be local\, adaptive\, and rooted in sovereignty\, history\, and relationships\, acknowledging that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Across the conversation\, speakers underscored the need to: \n\nBegin meaningful engagement early in the process to develop more comprehensive and co-developed research questions\nInvest in long-term relationships\, workforce development\, and local capacity—especially in Tribal communities\nSupport Tribally led stewardship efforts and enterprises (e.g.\, nurseries)\nAddress key challenges: limited funding\, high staff turnover in agencies\, and institutional barriers to equitable collaboration\n\n  \nJames Calabaza\, Indigenous Lands Program Manager of Trees\, Water\, People leads participants in final reflections and next steps\n\nOur Definitions of Co-Stewardship\nOn the final night of the summit\, attendees split into small groups to collectively define co-stewardship. The wide range of responses revealed the complexity of this seemingly straightforward term and underscored the need for a shared vision among stakeholders: \n  \n \n\n\nTheme II: Promoting Forest Resilience in an Age of Rapid Fire Regime Shifts\nFire for Aspen\, Aspen for Fire panel\nThe Aspen and Fire panel explored interactions between fire and aspen\, focusing on its strong ability to regenerate after fire. Panelists in the discussion included: \n\nColin Bonner\, University of Waterloo\nEllen Whitman\, Canadian Forest Service\nLarissa Yocum\, Utah State University\nSarah Hart\, Colorado State University\nMatt Harris\, Western Colorado University\n\nTwo key questions were discussed: \n\nHow can aspen stands be sustained or expanded to reduce wildfire risk and boost forest resilience?\nHow might changing fire regimes affect aspen presence\, and what role can prescribed fire or other interventions play in supporting it?\n\nThe panel explored aspen’s complex role in fire ecology\, noting that while aspen can recover well after fire\, its resilience is increasingly threatened by drought\, insects\, and disease. Researchers challenged the idea that aspen reliably acts as a natural fuel break\, pointing to new evidence that it can still burn severely under extreme fire conditions. Additionally\, fire suppression may appear more successful in aspen areas\, but this likely reflects wetter site conditions rather than aspen’s inherent fire resistance. As confier forests shift to aspen under changing fire regimes\, panelists emphasized the need for region-specific\, data-driven strategies. \nA critical moment arose in the discussion when the absence of Indigenous voices on the all-white panel of scientists was called out\, highlighting the ongoing marginalization of Indigenous perspectives and likening such erasure to “genocide all over again.” This underscored a persistent disconnect between Western scientific frameworks and co-stewardship principles\, revealing the emotional and relational toll for those advocating for truly integrated\, equitable dialogue. \n  \nWorkshop participants discuss impacts of wildlife severity on regeneration in the 2023 Lowline burn and relevance of wood products with aspen\n\n\nAspen Genetics to Inform Ecology and Management\nA panel discussion was held to highlight current research and opportunities in aspen genetics\, and their relevance for stewarding forest lands. Panelists included: \n\nBarbara Thomas\, University of Alberta\nLuke Tembrock\, Colorado State University\nMelanie Zacharias\, Laval University\nCarlyn Perovich\, U.S. Forest Service\n\nIn this discussion\, participants emphasized the importance of using genetic data in forest management\, especially those traits trees need to survive under different environmental conditions. One key topic was genetic offset\, the growing gap between current genetic traits and future environmental conditions\, and how what counts as adaptive or maladaptive traits is decided. The panel raised critical questions about who controls genetic data and who benefits from it\, calling for more comprehensive approaches that respect Indigenous knowledge. They noted that efforts often run on separate tracks – Western science and Indigenous stewardship –  with “box-checking” approaches falling short of true collaboration. Despite institutional and time-related barriers\, panelists urged that it’s not too late to shift course\, even mid-project\, and stressed the value of humility\, uncertainty\, and relationship-building. \n  \nWorkshop participants gather for poster session discussion\n  \nField Trips\nField Trip 1\nA guided field trip led by Jonathan Coop visited the 2023 Lowline Burn\, a roughly 2\,000-acre fire in the Ohio Creek drainage. The site illustrated the incredible capacity of aspen to resprout after a high-intensity fire and highlighted spots where aspen stands acted like “speed bumps\,” slowing the fire’s spread and helping to contain its perimeter. \n. \nWorkshop participants witnessed different levels of burn severity in aspen stands in the 2023 Lowline burn\n  \nField Trip 2\nTwo guided walks near Gothic explored local aspen stands along the Copper Creek Trail\, offering hands-on learning around several key themes. The first component focused on genetics and was led by Benjamin Blonder. Participants compared trees with known genetic traits\, such as sex and ploidy levels\, and discussed how remote sensing predictions aligned with what they observed in the field. The group also learned how to identify common aspen diseases caused by fungi and insects\, with guidance from Forest Health Protection staff. Along the way\, conversations delved into the area’s complex history\, including settler-driven disturbances like mining\, logging\, and fire\, as well as Indigenous relationships with the land. These discussions sparked thoughtful and sometimes intense dialogue\, deepening the workshop’s broader focus on co-stewardship. \n  \nWorkshop participants interact with aspen stands along the Copper Creek trail\n  \nClosing Ceremony\nThe summit concluded with an Indigenous-led closing ceremony that invited each participant to reflect on their personal journey and collective responsibility. Holding aspen branches\, attendees shared prayers\, insights\, and intentions for how they would carry forward the lessons of co-stewardship in their own work\, before throwing the branches into a fire\, “watching the aspen – and our words – return to the earth” (Calabaza 2025). The act underscored not only the growth sparked by the summit\, but also the deeper meaning of aspen itself: a species defined by its unseen network of roots\, symbolizing the significance of building a network of relationships to co-steward this key species that represents the ultimate socio-ecological network it sustains. \n  \nWorkshop participants gather around the fire pit for a closing ceremony blessing led by tribal members at Rocky Mountain Biologic Laboratory in Gothic\, CO \n  \nResources\nRecommended Readings\nRecommended readings were provided prior to the workshop to help orient attendees across five key topics that dove into the themes that was addressed during the workshop: \n\nShared Stewardship\nDecolonization\nAspen Regeneration\nAspen Genetics\nAspen and Fire\n\nPresentations\n\nPresentations pending\, please check back\n\nReferences\n\nWolf\, elk\, and aspen food web relationships: Context and complexity\nPatterns and consequences of ungulate herbivory on aspen in western North America\nHerbivory strains resilience in drought-prone aspen landscapes of the western United States\n\n  \nStructure burn within a wildfire burn scar indicating fire severity \n  \nKey Take Aways & Next Steps\nParticipants throughout the summit emphasized that quaking aspen is more than a tree\, it is a focal point for navigating the profound ecological\, cultural\, and political shifts shaping today’s forests. The summit reflected a shared urgency around changing landscapes\, fire\, and biodiversity loss\, while also highlighting the need to rebuild trust through co-stewardship grounded in reciprocity\, respect\, and local knowledge. \nWhile the workshop aimed to bring together Western science and Indigenous perspectives\, it also revealed deep tensions surrounding such a dialogue. Tribal and non-tribal participants often approached issues differently\, with historical harm\, mistrust\, and unequal power dynamics surfacing early. Many stressed that Tribal Nations must be involved from the start\, not as stakeholders\, but as sovereign partners with deep-rooted knowledge and living traditions. \nParticipants called for co-stewardship to move beyond technical fixes. True collaboration must recognize Indigenous sovereignty\, confront structural and jurisdictional barriers\, and make space for honest\, sometimes difficult\, conversations. Moving forward will require long-term commitment\, humility\, and a willingness to shift the status quo that prioritizes: \n\nRelationship-building\nShared decision-making\nProcess-based restoration tailored to local needs and the cultural significance of landscapes to the people who call them home\n\n\nWorkshop participants view wildfire burn scar to the West\n  \nParallel Research – Tribal co-stewardship in practice: lessons learned and ongoing challenges\nAs Tribes across the western U.S. lead efforts to restore culturally significant landscapes\, new federal guidance has called for stronger co-stewardship and greater inclusion of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK). However\, turning policy into practice remains inconsistent\, and research on effective implementation is still limited. In response\, a multi-year research project led by Dr. Jeff Martin and Dr. Serra Hoagland of the U.S. Forest Service aims to learn directly from tribally led\, landscape-scale restoration efforts across the region. Working in close partnership with Tribal Nations\, the project will explore shared priorities like capacity building\, cultural competency\, and data sovereignty\, while identifying common challenges\, successful strategies\, and opportunities to strengthen co-stewardship moving forward. \n  \nThank You! URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/2024-aspen-summit-climate-smart-management-culturally-sustaining-co-stewardship-of-quaking-aspen/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240529T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240529T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20240311T200953Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240718T184211Z UID:1773-1716969600-1717002000@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Front Range Grassland Fire Workshop DESCRIPTION:In Colorado\, the Front Range can present unique fuel and weather conditions for wildfires. Combined with numerous wildland/urban interface and intermix settings\, these conditions can be critical in wildfire management. \nThe Front Range Grassland Fire Workshop aimed to increase participant’s knowledge and understanding of the ecology\, behavior\, risks\, and management of grassfire conditions on the Front Range. \nSpeakers from both the Front Range and the Great Plains discussed grassland fire ecology\, history\, current conditions\, prescribed fire and management for urban\, rural\, and intermix areas. \n  \nPART 1 WORKSHOP RECORDING\nPART 2 WORKSHOP RECORDING\n  \n \nWORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS:\n\nAshley Stolzmann: Marshall Fire\nSam Fuhlendorf: Front Range\nDavid Augustine & Justin Derner: Ecology of Fire in Semi-arid Grasslands of Colorado\nChad Julian & Bruno Rodriquez: Fire and Predictive Services Challenges\nConflagration Management Planning\nJohn Weir: Private Landowners Effectively Applying Fire to the Land\nChad Julian: Evaluating Risk in Grasslands\, Developing Conceptual Model and Risk Layer\nJoe Swanson: Boulder County Parks and Open Space Grassland Ecology\, Invasives and Fire\nLeslie Clark & Allison James: Town of Superior: Enhancing Resilience: Vegetative Fuel Mitigation Strategies\nNathaniel Goeckner: Grassland Restoration & Wildfire Mitigation\n\n  \nFIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS HERE URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/front-range-grassland-fire-workshop/ LOCATION:Dicken’s Opera House\, 302 Main St\, Longmont\, CO CATEGORIES:Education & Training ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FR_Grassland_workshop_WEB_IMAGE.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240306T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240307T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20240116T200532Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T201412Z UID:1767-1709712000-1709830800@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Rocky Mountain National Park Biennial Research Conference DESCRIPTION:March 6-7\, 2024 \nRocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)\, in collaboration with Rocky Mountain Conservancy\, is proud to host a biennial research conference to facilitate knowledge sharing between park staff\, research partners\, collaborators\, and community members. Sharing scientific research and results is an integral part of science-informed decision-making and adaptive management at RMNP. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/rocky-mountain-national-park-biennial-research-conference/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-16-at-1.13.50 PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240130T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240204T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20231204T210225Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231204T210225Z UID:1761-1706601600-1707066000@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Tribal Forest and Fire Summit DESCRIPTION:DAY ONE\nNew Mexico Tribal Forest and Fire Summit\nNM Tribal Rx Fire Planning Workshop \nInterested in prescribed fire on tribally managed lands? Come learn about the process and parts of the burn plan to know what it takes to get from the concept of Rx fire to flames on the ground! \nThis workshop will take place on January 30 from 9:30am-2:45pm with time for rest breaks and lunch. \nPurpose of workshop: To equip tribal or tribal-affiliated natural resource managers and practitioners with an understanding of the burn planning process to work towards good and thorough surveying\, burn plans\, and implementation.  Together we’ll learn about elements of prescribed fire planning\, which parts of burn plans can be co-created\, and BIA’s process for approving burn plans. We’ll share lessons learned from challenges and successes throughout. \nTopics to be covered: \n\n\nBIA process from concept to completed burn: review necessary elements to get from start to finish \n\n\nIdentifying the resource need\, completing NEPA/cultural surveys and other clearances\, writing the burn plan\, getting the plan approved by BIA\, finding funding\, completing the go/no-go\, gathering resources\, and more. \n\n\n\n\nElements of a Burn Plan \n\n\nObjectives \n\n\nWhat can we do with Rx fire and how do we design the burn to accomplish those objectives? \n\n\nDefining objectives\, prescriptions\, fire modeling\, and monitoring. \n\n\n\n\nTactics and Risks \n\n\nWhat goes into keeping the burn in the box? \n\n\nHolding and firing plan\, including resources\, notifications\, and who to notify and how \n\n\nSmoke modeling and management\, smoke permits. \n\n\n\n\nHow to prepare for Rx fire \n\n\nNEPA and possible routes to navigate the process \n\n\nBurn Unit design and preparation through fuels treatments and line prep \n\n\n\n\n\n\nGuest Presentation from Gesse Bullock\, Fire Management Specialist of Alabama-Coushatta Tribe\, on their burning program. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNM Tribal Forestry Methodologies Workshop \nInterested in learning more initiatives around forest management and restoration in New Mexico? Come learn about current and future initiatives centered around forest education\, reforestation and seed collection opportunities and utilization of technology in this field. \nWorkshop sessions will take place on January 30th from 9:30am – 5:00pm with time for breaks and lunch. \nPurpose of workshop:  To provide information and real-world experiences on best practices related to forest health and restoration efforts. The workshop will go through a series of different forest-related topics to enhance Tribal forest managers and crews knowledge of current and future climate-related challenges that will impact forests in New Mexico. \nTopics to be covered: \n\n\nForestry 101 overview – New Mexico State Forestry Division will be providing a basic presentation that will cover fundamentals of forest terminologies\, practices and treatments. \n\n\n\n\nTechnology in Forest Management & Restoration – University of New Mexico Earth Systems Lab will lead a presentation session that highlights the utilization of technology in forest management practices. Topics will include using tech for modeling\, monitoring\, mapping and reporting for forest-related projects. \n\n\n\n\nBest practices for Bosque Restoration – Land managers will present on their approach and practices to bosque management and restoration on Tribal lands. The presentation will cover a recent thinning and Rx project and the best practices they implemented during that process. \n\n\n\n\nNew Mexico Reforestation and Seed Collection initiatives – Reps from New Mexico Highlands and New Mexico State Forestry will provide an overview of these new statewide initiatives to reforest New Mexico forests and establish a workforce around tree planting and seed collection opportunities. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/new-mexico-tribal-forest-and-fire-summit/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-04-at-1.56.04 PM.png ORGANIZER;CN="Trees%2C Water and People":MAILTO:info@treeswaterpeople.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231215T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20231215T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20231129T174322Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231129T174322Z UID:1752-1702627200-1702659600@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:After The Flames. Proposals for presentations due December 15\, 2023 DESCRIPTION:We invite submissions for presentations at the “From Flames to Resilience” conference\, where we will explore strategies\, tools\, and collaborative approaches that contribute to effective post-fire recovery. Share your expertise and insights on enhancing pre-fire planning\, addressing policy challenges\, integrating science\, and showcasing practical implementation strategies aimed at building resilient communities. Join us in shaping the future of post-fire recovery and fostering resilience in the face of wildfire. \n\nCOCO invites proposals addressing the following topics: \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPre-Fire Planning for Better Post-Fire Recovery\n\n\nExploring strategies and best practices for pre-fire planning to facilitate efficient and effective post-fire recovery efforts.\nIntegrating post-fire considerations into Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs).\nAssessing the role of science in informing management decisions for fire outcomes and its impact on community readiness for post-fire impacts.\nLeveraging AI and data-driven approaches for risk-informed decision-making in post-fire recovery planning.\nIdentifying available tools and resources for pre-fire planning and discussing challenges and opportunities in their accessibility and utilization.\nPromoting the importance of including post-fire discussions in pre-fire planning processes. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/after-the-flames-proposals-for-presentations-due-december-15-2023/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-16-at-10.54.23 AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231214T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231214T123000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20231129T174832Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231129T174832Z UID:1756-1702551600-1702557000@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:The Future is Smoky: Panel Discussion DESCRIPTION:The Future is Smoky\nPANEL DISCUSSION:\nThursday\, December 14\, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM ET \nEarlier this year\, smoke from Canada wildfires lowered air quality in the eastern U.S. to its worst levels in recorded history. As the climate heats up and creates drier conditions\, smoky skies will grow increasingly common. Panelists include research meteorologists\, air quality experts\, and fire practitioners. Together\, they will explore how we can address and adapt to a smoky future.​​ URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/the-future-is-smoky-panel-discussion/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-16-at-11.26.47 AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231204 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231209 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20231129T174539Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231129T174539Z UID:1754-1701648000-1702079999@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:10th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress DESCRIPTION:The 10th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress will be held in Monterey\, California December 4-8\, 2023. This event will include workshops\, field trips\, and 3 full days of presentations\, discussion groups\, and networking opportunities around the theme\, Igniting Connections: Celebrating our fire family across generations\, cultures\, and disciplines. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/10th-international-fire-ecology-and-management-congress/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-16-at-11.29.23 AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230906 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230908 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230516T151147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230516T151147Z UID:1709-1693958400-1694131199@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:2023 Patch Burn Grazing Meeting DESCRIPTION:The 2023 Patch Burn Grazing meeting will be September 6-7 at the Community Center in Auburn\, KS. \nThe call for papers is now open. If you would like to give a presentation\, please send Lori Bammerlin an email. \nOur field trip will be to the Wayne Kopp ranch near Auburn. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/2023-patch-burn-grazing-meeting/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/prescribedburn.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230731 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230804 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20231114T154101Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231114T154101Z UID:1726-1690761600-1691107199@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Colorado Aspen Summit 2023 DESCRIPTION:Summary of Event and Photos\nField visit to aspen stand in San Juan National Forest. Photo credit: Brooke Simmons\nSummary  \nThe 2023 Colorado Aspen Summit was held July 31-August 2\, 2023\, south of Pagosa Springs\, Colorado.  Considering increasing disturbances from fire\, as well as insects and pathogens\, heavy herbivory leading to widespread declines in recruitment\, as well as the expected reintroduction of wolves\, the role of natural resource managers – foresters\, wildlife biologists\, scientists\, and land managers – has never been more important for aspen.  The three-day workshop examined four emerging trends to which managers will likely have to adjust stewardship actions to appropriately sustain aspen forests into the future. \n\nAttendees gathering in the meeting barn at Sombrilla Springs. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \nEmerging trends: \nAn invasive sapsucking insect\, oystershell scale\, which causes aspen mortality at low-elevations and in exclosures designed to protect aspen from herbivory\, has recently become widespread throughout Arizona\, and has been spotted in northern Utah. It is likely expanding across the West.   It causes damage leading to aspen mortality. While it has not been found in native aspen stands in Colorado\, it is a rapidly-spreading insect advancing from urban apple orchards into the wildlands and we expect it will be found in Colorado in the future. It is important to work collectively to identify it and coordinate a regional approach. \n  \nHerbivory from deer\, elk and moose has led to widespread declines in aspen recruitment across portions of its range. Herbivory often affects private and public lands differently\, frequently dependent on hunting pressures.  Ungulate movement due to hunting pressures can often create a disproportionate impact on the vegetation. For example\, in areas with hunting\, browse pressure is often lower as animals move through the landscape than in areas without hunting.  On private land\, managers have experimented with the creation of barriers\, such as fencing\, to prevent entry with varied success. Across all lands\, engaging with wildlife biologists and state agencies about carrying capacity decisions and impact on aspen is important. \n  \nWildfire\, bark beetle outbreaks\, drought\, flooding and a general warming trend are having greater impacts in Colorado’s forests. While these repeated disturbances are natural to the system\, they are occurring with increased frequency in space and time. Generally\, aspen seems to respond well to short-term reoccurrence of disturbance events; it can reproduce and persist in such conditions where conifer species\, dependent on growth from seed\, are much slower to recover. However\, managers are now encountering novel forest trajectories.  Monitoring aspen recovery in post-disturbance landscapes will be important to informing future stewardship actions. \n  \nAnd finally\, one we did not discuss in depth at the summit\, but we should keep an eye on\, is wolf reintroduction in Colorado\, which may have an eco-system-wide impact. In May 2023\, the State of Colorado finalized a plan to reintroduce wolves by the end of the year. Under the plan\, Colorado would release 10-15 wolves on state or private land each winter over the next three to five years. In Yellowstone\, the reintroduction of wolves had a ripple effect felt throughout the ecosystem\, which decreased browse pressure on aspen. \n  \nLastly\, monitoring the outcomes on aspen in areas where browse\, drought\, fire\, beetle-kill of conifers\, or flooding overlap is sometimes overlooked\, but critically important. \n  \nWorkshop attendees observe an herbivory fence at Rancho Del Oso Pardo\, NM. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\nTent site amongst the aspen stand at Sombrilla Springs. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \nOverview of the workshop \nLand managers\, wildlife biologists\, foresters\, aspen experts\, as well as those new to the field\, gathered at Sombrilla Springs on the Reed Hare Ranch near Pagosa Springs\, Colorado\, from July 31st to August 2nd for the 2023 Colorado Aspen Summit.  Organizers designed this three-day\, field-based workshop to enhance participants’ understanding of emerging aspen management issues. Paul Rogers from the Western Aspen Alliance\, alongside a team of regional experts\, facilitated the event. \nThe summit included an afternoon of presentations followed by two days of field sessions where the group engaged with local landowners. This interaction provided insights into the challenges of aspen management in southern Colorado and offered a platform to exchange strategies. Participants had the opportunity to visit both private lands and federally managed forests\, allowing them to witness firsthand the range of management actions possible and to learn from diverse approaches. \nSombrilla Springs barn on the Reed Hare Ranch. Photo credit: Brooke Simmons\n  \nBackground \nThe Western Aspen Alliance at Utah State University is dedicated to advancing research\, restoration and conservation efforts focused on quaking aspen trees throughout the western United States.  The organization annually coordinates field-based learning workshops across several Western states designed to provide a forum for interaction between agencies and disciplines. In 2022\, the Western Aspen Alliance and partners hosted a workshop near Granby\, and in 2023\, a workshop south of Pagosa Springs. At the core of this approach is the belief that aspen conservation depends on knowledge sharing across ecological and administrative boundaries. \nAspen is a widespread tree species in North America and occurs across a broad range of elevations in Colorado. Covering five million acres – nearly 20% of the state’s forested land – Colorado is the state with the highest percentage of aspen forest in any of the lower 48 states.  In Colorado\, aspen generates millions in tourist revenue\, is one of the most species-diverse and carbon-rich forest types\, and is an important habitat for plants\, insects\, and mammals such as moose\, elk and deer. In addition\, aspen serves as a source of fiber and wood in southern Colorado. \nAcross the West\, managers and scientists have observed aspen decline at the edges of its distribution. A continued warming climate may further influence the location and extent of aspen forest on the landscape. For example\, initial research suggests that post-disturbance\, aspen will be retained on the landscape\, but will potentially shift to higher elevations. Given these expected changes\, monitoring is important to understand how aspen ecosystems are responding to changes to inform management decisions. \nAspen are highly susceptible to disturbance\, but frequently regenerate from a clonal root or grow from seed. These forests\, characterized by their thin bark\, are susceptible to insect pests and pathogens\, herbivory and injury from browse\, as well as drought and heat-related mortality. Efforts to integrate monitoring and management will enable us to explore novel conditions\, as well as adjust stewardship actions to appropriately sustain these valuable forests into the future. \nHerbivory impacts on an aspen tree. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \nPresentations \nOpening Plenary: \n\n\n\nQuaking Aspen: Can We Manage to Monitor?\, Paul Rogers\, Utah State University\nThe Future of Aspen in Colorado\, Sarah Hart\, Assistant Professor\, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship\, Colorado State University\nMonitoring of Long-Term Trends in Aspen Health\, Bradley Lalande\, US Forest Service at Gunnison Service Center\n\n\n\nEmerging Management Issues & Local Case Studies: \n\n\n\nEmerging Diseases and Aspen\, Kristen Waring\, Northern Arizona University\nAspen and Wildlife on the Jicarilla Apache Nation\, Kyle Tator\, Wildlife Biologist\, Jicarilla Apache Nation\nCross-Boundary Aspen Management: Southern San Juan Mountains\, Dana Guinn\, Forest Stewards Guild\, Matt Tuten\, State and Private Forestry at the US Forest Service Region 2\n\n\n\nScreenshot from Sarah Hart’s presentation\nKey themes discussed \n\nOystershell scale (OSS)\, an invasive sapsucking insect\, has recently become widespread in native aspen stands throughout Arizona and has been spotted in northern Utah. It causes damage leading to aspen mortality in lower elevation stands and within ungulate exclosures created to protect aspen from herbivory. While it has not yet been found in native aspen stands in Colorado\, it is a rapidly spreading invasive insect moving from urban apple orchards into the wildlands and is expected to be found in Colorado. Participants agreed to search for OSS during field work. One way to register observations is through the Survey123 app (accessed below).\n\n  \n\nLearn more here OSS in this Western Aspen Alliance brief: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1044682.pdf\n\n  \n\nReport OSS in Colorado using the app\, Survey 123\, which you can download on your phone or other mobile device. Scan this QR code from inside the app to load the survey. You do not need an ESRI license to load the app. It is free to all users.\n\nHeavily infested aspen tree with oystershell scales (with closeup of the scales). \nPhoto credit: Lucas Vader/ Delta County Independent\n  \n2. Herbivory from moose\, elk and deer has led to widespread declines in aspen recruitment across portions of its range. The definition of recruitment differs from that of regeneration\, in that recruitment refers to aspen that are greater than 2 meters in height (although definitions vary). Colorado is the state with the highest elk population in the U.S.\, 290\,000 animals\, which is twice as found in #2 Oregon with 130\,000 animals. Elk browse preferentially on regenerating aspen. They prefer the apical stem of small aspen\, which has better nutritional value\, than the lateral branches. As a result of strong browse pressures\, we often observe “gallery aspen forests\,” areas full of old trees with few recruiting stems. A gallery forest is a system on the verge of collapse. \nOn private or National Park Service lands where hunting is not allowed\, we commonly observe a “refuge effect\,” in which ungulates seek protection from hunting by moving onto private lands during hunting season\, also known as habitat compression. This movement due to hunting pressures can often create a disproportionate impact on the vegetation. The impacts of herbivory also vary by location within the state; for example\, in the San Juan Mountains\, herbivory inhibits the regeneration to recruitment phase in aspen. \nOn private land\, managers have experimented with the creation of barriers – brush fences\, electric fencing on t-posts\, hinging aspen trees at 8 feet high followed by the application of barbed wire fencing to prevent entry\, fenced exclosures\, and even the distribution of mountain lion urine\, to deter or physically prevent browse. At Rancho del Oso Pardo\, brush fences to be the most efficient deterrent\, although they did not work in all instances. However\, managers also report that these measures have had varying impacts on aspen\, since secondary variables such as aspect and timing of the installation of browse protection measures also affect the ability of aspen to recover. Some managers mused that fencing buys time\, but the worry is that it is creating an “aspen ”\, essentially a small patch of protected aspen within a large landscape devoid of aspen. \nGreat Sand Dunes National Park hosts a population of 3\,000-4\,000 elk\, mostly non-migratory. To protect the habitat\, the park uses lethal removal of elk\, rather than fencing or other physical barriers. \nA persistent idea underlying one strategy to control herbivory\, often referred to as “swamping herbivory” is that if the area of disturbance (cutting\, fire\, or other disturbance) is large enough\, the resulting size will distribute and diminish the impact of browse throughout the area. Although this idea persists\, there remains insufficient empirical evidence to suggest that larger disturbances diminish browse pressure. Instead\, there is an opportunity to better understand the dynamics of animal movements and resource use\, and the size of disturbance. \nFor some land managers\, the loss of aspen is a “dilution of wildness\,” as shared by Kyle Tator of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Addressing herbivory will be important across all types of land\, or else we may face a collective dilution of wildness. \nPhoto through binoculars looking at an herbivory control fence. Aspen trees are behind the exclosure fence line. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \n3. Repeat disturbances with a shortened periodicity \nWildfire\, bark beetle outbreaks\, drought\, flooding and a general warming trend are occurring more frequently in Colorado’s forests. While these processes are natural to the system\, they are occurring with increased frequency in space and time.  Generally\, aspen seems to respond well to the short-term reoccurrence of disturbance events; it can reproduce and persist in such conditions where conifer species\, dependent on growth from seed\, are much slower to recover.  However\, managers are now encountering novel forest trajectories. For example\, post-fire aspen seems to be expanding upslope in elevation [1]. \nOne disturbance\, Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD)\, first observed in 2004 in southwest Colorado\, causes concentrated areas of dieback or mortality. However\, recent surveys show that drought-induced mortality was less than 30% and that many clones have since recovered partially or wholly. Bradley Lalande and colleagues with the U.S. Forest Service suggest that sudden aspen decline is not sudden and may not cause irreversible decline. Considering these findings\, the team suggests that “sudden aspen decline”\, as a term\, is misleading and propose a new term: “drought-induced mortality”. \nWorkshop attendees at an active aspen logging site. Photo credit: Brooke Simmons\n  \n4. And finally\, a topic we did not discuss in depth\, but one we should keep explore\, is wolf reintroduction in Colorado. In May 2023\, the State of Colorado finalized a plan to reintroduce wolves by the end of the year. Under the plan\, Colorado would release 10-15 wolves on state or private land each winter over the next three to five years. Specific locations will not be released to the public\, but the first release is expected to occur in Pitkin County\, and a second release in the West Elk mountain range. \nThere are well-documented cases of trophic cascades in Yellowstone following wolf reintroduction. These cascading effects included a decrease in the elk population\, the return of aspen\, willow and cottonwood as browse pressure diminished\, and an increase in the beaver and bison populations (who had more forage)\, among other changes[2]. \nMore about the Colorado wolf reintroduction plan can be found on Colorado Public Radio\, here.  The final version of the wolf restoration and management plan is here. \nOther references and discussion of wolf and other species influences to the Yellowstone ecosystem can be found here: \nhttps://www.usgs.gov/centers/northern-prairie-wildlife-research-center/science/yellowstone-wolf-restoration \nhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/23/rebalancing-act-bringing-back-wolf-fix-broken-ecosystem-aoe \nWorkshop attendees meet in an aspen fuel break at Reed Hare Ranch. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \nNext steps for the group \n\nOystershell Scale  Kristen Waring and her collaborators will create a predictive west-wide map of locations most at risk for OSS based on climate and elevation thresholds. Stay tuned for that in the coming 1-2 years!\nHerbivory  The targets for animal populations need our input as ecologists\, foresters\, and vegetation mangers to inform wildlife biologists about the impact of browse on aspen.\nRepeat disturbances  Managers can anticipate the shortened periodicity of disturbance as the climate warms\, and work on longer-term planning. Managers should not attach themselves to retaining aspen at a given location\, but rather must understand that if we lose aspen in a given location\, we will likely find it someplace else.  Thus\, aspen may shift its location following repeat disturbances\, but be retained on the landscape.\nA new understanding of long-term effects of drought on aspen We now know that sudden aspen decline is not actually sudden\, and the majority of stands did not decline more than 30%.  We should move away from using the term “sudden aspen decline”. Drought-induced mortality may be a more accurate term. As one ecologist noted\, “aspen lives and dies\, a lot!”\nAdaptive management focused on the development of a menu of local silvicultural techniques It will be increasingly beneficial to explore the type of aspen management techniques taking place within a given landscape\, rather than following a textbook prescription. There are areas of high experimentation on private lands\, including a coppice cut with reserves that we visited\, which are rich for learning. A shared goal for managers across all land ownership types is to create complexity within managed units.\nMonitoring Aspen management should be followed up with some form of monitoring to inform future decision-making.\n\nWorkshop attendees at a management site at Rancho Del Oso Pardo\, NM. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \nTurning learning into action \nOne goal of the Western Aspen Alliance is to translate science into action by hosting workshops\, sharing timely briefs on emerging issues\, such as OSS\, and by receiving a regular newsletter. Sign up for this free newsletter and briefs here. \n  \nThe questions we heard \nWhat are some talking points about the importance of aspen forests?  Are there species that only live in aspen and nowhere else? \n\nHigh carbon storage: In terms of aboveground carbon storage\, aspen forests in Colorado store more aboveground carbon per acre than all forest types other than spruce-fir. In terms of belowground carbon\, the story is more complex. Some studies have shown that soil organic carbon storage is greater under aspen forests than conifer forest (although not all). Perhaps more importantly\, scientists also think that soil organic carbon under aspen is more stable (although the mechanism here is still being sorted out). So broadly\, increasing aspen is thought to increase the resistance and resilience of soil carbon stocks to climate change.\nKeystone species: Aspen has been considered a “keystone” or “foundational” species due to its high levels of plant\, insect\, and vertebrate diversity. A keystone species is a species that affects the survival and abundance of many other species in the community where it lives. A foundational species defines and structures certain forest ecosystems through their influences on associated organisms and modulation of ecosystem processes.\nHigh diversity of birds: Aspen provide excellent bird habitat at local\, landscape and regional scales.  Many studies have documented greater bird species richness in aspen than surrounding conifer forests [3].  One study in the Black Hills reported the following bird species in pure aspen stands: Swainson’s thrush (Cartharus ustulatus)\, common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)\, and mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) [3]. Others occurred mostly in pure aspen or aspen with ponderosa pine: northern flicker (Colaptes auratus)\, flycatchers (Empidonax spp.)\, MacGillvray’s warbler (Oporornis tolmiei)\, ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)\, red-napped sapsucker (Sphrapicus nuchalis)\, chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)\, American robin (Turdus migratorius)\, and warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus) [3].\nExcellent for water storage and regulation Aspen is beneficial to soil water storage and discharge. In one study\, aspen had a 42-83% greater potential water yield for runoff and groundwater recharge than a mixed conifer forest [4].\nHigh diversity of plants. A study in Rocky Mountain National Park identified 188 vascular plants that occurred only in aspen forest\, reporting a combined 264 species identified in aspen and conifer forests[5].  In Beaver Meadows plots\, aspen occurred in only 1.2% of the vegetation cover\, but harbored 45% of all plants observed[5].\nHigh diversity of butterflies. This same study in Rocky Mountain National Park recorded 33 butterfly species\, eight of which were found only in aspen stands [5].\nHabitat and forage Aspen is a favorite forage for elk\, who eat young shoots and strip bark.\n\n  \nWant to learn more about the diversity found in aspen forests? Check out the Western Aspen Alliance brief #7:  Biodiversity within aspen forests\, and Brief # 3: The Role of Fire in Aspen Ecology and Restoration. A comprehensive WAA list can be found here. \nWhat did you like and what did we miss that we should include at future workshops: \n\nThe Colorado State Forest Service asked participants to let them know what can be done to help facilitate more opportunities like this one.\nThe group saw incredible experimentation and learned a lot from management approaches on private lands\, where browse pressure is often high. Private landowners are well-suited to innovate\, and future workshops should continue to prioritize a visit to private lands.\nParticipants suggested visiting an area affected by high-severity wildfire to better understand aspen response postfire.\nOrganizers hope that future workshops can better engage experts in aspen insect disease and pathogens.\nMost participants felt that group size of forty was ideal.\n\nAspen tree growing through the hood of an old truck at Rancho Del Oso Pardo\, NM. Photo credit: Paul Rogers\n  \nThank you! \nThank you! A big thank-you to Sandlin Niccum\, owner of Sombrilla Springs at the Reed Hare Ranch\, for hosting our group. Many thanks to each of our speakers who graciously volunteered their time to share their expertise with us\, including Paul Rogers\, Sarah Hart\, Brad Lalande\, Kristen Waring\, Kyle Tator\, Matt Tuten and Dana Guinn\, Peggy Bergon\, Aaron Jones\, Sandlin Niccum\, and the timber staff of the San Juan National Forest\, including Rita Daniels\, Kevin Emde\, Adam Tlachac\, and Will Weisman.  We are grateful to each participant who brought a spirit of curiosity and came to share their knowledge and experience. Lastly\, thanks to the organizations who sponsored this event by providing financial support\, including the Chama Peak Land Alliance\, Colorado State Forest Service\, Southern Rockies Fire Science Network\, The Nature Conservancy\, and in-kind support\, including the U.S. Forest Service Region 2 State\, Private and Tribal Forestry\, and the Forest Stewards Guild. \n  \nPeggy Bergon presenting on arborglyphs. Photo credit: Brooke Simmons\n  \nWorks cited:\n\n\nNigro KM\, Rocca ME\, Battaglia MA\, Coop JD\, Redmond MD. Wildfire catalyzes upward range expansion of trembling aspen in southern Rocky Mountain beetle-killed forests. Journal of Biogeography. 2022;49: 201–214. doi:10.1111/jbi.14302\n\n\nRipple WJ\, Beschta RL. Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15 years after wolf reintroduction. Biological Conservation. 2012;145: 205–213. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.11.005\n\n\nRumble MA\, Flake LD\, Mills TR\, Brookshire BL. Do Pine Trees in Aspen Stands Increase Bird Diversity? 2001. Report No.: RMRS-P-18.\n\n\nLaMalfa EM\, Ryle R. Differential Snowpack Accumulation and Water Dynamics in Aspen and Conifer Communities: Implications for Water Yield and Ecosystem Function. Ecosystems. 2008;11: 569–581.\n\n\nChong G\, Simonson SE\, Stohlgren TJ\, Kalkhan MA. Biodiversity: Aspen stands have the lead\, but will nonnative species take over? Grand Junction\, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture\, Forest Service\, Rocky Mountain Research Station; 2000. pp. 261–272. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/colorado-aspen-summit-2023/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230502 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230505 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20220706T181753Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230124T143024Z UID:1567-1682985600-1683244799@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Cross-Boundary Landscape Restoration Workshop - SWERI DESCRIPTION:May 2-4\, 2023 \nHeld at Colorado State University campus\, Fort Collins\, CO \nKeynotes: \nMonica Lear\, Station Director\nUSDA Forest Service\, Rocky Mountain Research Station \nSusan J. Prichard\, Research Scientist\nCollege of Forest Resources\, University of Washington  \nChris Swanston\, Climate Advisor & Director\nUSDA Forest Service\, Office of Sustainability and Climate \nJohn Waconda\, Indigenous Partnership Program Director\nThe Nature Conservancy \nWhy: To share successes and lessons learned on cross-boundary\, collaborative efforts to restore and reimagine fire-adapted forest landscapes\, explore gaps and needs to better incorporate diversity\, equity\, inclusion\, and justice in forestry\, fuels\, and fire research\, and management and co-develop recommendations\, strategies\, and resources for collaborative landscape-scale restoration projects. \nWho: Government\, tribal\, and non-government foresters\, fire managers\, planners\, biologists\, line officers\, regional and national program managers\, forest researchers\, conservation organizations\, funding partners\, forest operations companies\, and other stakeholders interested in applying science and tools for all-lands collaborative forest landscape restoration. \nSpecial Features: Special presentation by Stephen Pyne\, author of The Pyrocene\, Monday\, May 1st\, Open to the Public\, Free \nRegister: https://sweri.org/cross-boundary-landscape-restoration-workshop/ URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/cross-boundary-landscape-restoration-workshop-sweri/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CBW_Hdronly.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230411 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230415 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20220706T181122Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220706T181207Z UID:1565-1681171200-1681516799@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Colorado Wildland Fire Conference 2023 DESCRIPTION:SAVE THE DATES:\nApril 11-April 14\, 2023 main conference session April 12 & 13 w/ pre- and post-con workshops and tours\nAccelerating Adaptation and Managing Expectations \n2023 Conference Location:\nFort Collins Marriott\,\n50 East Horsetooth Road\nFort Collins CO\, 80525 \nInterested in joining the planning team or in presenting? \nCONTACT FACO – Fire Adapted Colorado URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/colorado-wildland-fire-conference-2023/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CWFC_SavetheDate_2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230405T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230405T123000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230328T175203Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230328T175203Z UID:1693-1680692400-1680697800@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Effectiveness of fuel treatments at the landscape scale: State of understanding and key research gaps DESCRIPTION:Effectiveness of fuel treatments at the landscape scale: State of understanding and key research gaps \nMaximizing the effectiveness of fuel treatments at the landscape scale is a key research and management need given the inability to treat all areas at risk from wildfire\, and there is a growing body of scientific literature assessing this need. Join the Joint Fire Science Program Exchanges and the Rocky Mountain Research Station as scientists present their research and results on landscape-scale fuel treatment effectiveness\, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. \nWednesday April 5\, 2023. 11a-12:30p MT \nRegister here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MYX1Ec_BTjuZJPsupdkzZg#/registration URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/effectiveness-of-fuel-treatments-at-the-landscape-scale-state-of-understanding-and-key-research-gaps/ CATEGORIES:Education & Training ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-28-at-11.49.53-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230328T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230330T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T143825Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T143825Z UID:1677-1679990400-1680195600@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:IAFC's Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) conference DESCRIPTION:The IAFC’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) conference\noffers hands-on training and interactive sessions. \nView the 2023 WUI schedule including pre-cons\, breakouts and more. \nRegister Here: https://iafc.swoogo.com/WUI2023 URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/iafcs-wildland-urban-interface-wui-conference/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-03-at-7.36.53-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230320T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230320T140000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T144648Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T144712Z UID:1685-1679315400-1679320800@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Webinar Series: Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Effects on Wildlife DESCRIPTION:March 20th: \n\n Synthesis: wildlife and fire issues\nPanel Discussion\n\n\nInformation and registration URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/webinar-series-wildfire-and-prescribed-fire-effects-on-wildlife-copy-copy/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-01-at-2.21.12-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230320T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230321T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230124T143330Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230124T143330Z UID:1666-1679299200-1679418000@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Leading The CWPP Process DESCRIPTION:Leading The CWPP Process is a course through The Ember Alliance\, Coalitions & Collaboratives\, and the Fire Learning Network aimed at helping communities and fire departments write\, maintain\, and follow through with CWPPs. \n  \nREGISTRATION IS OPEN\nDates: March 20 – 21\, 2023\nLocation: Fort Collins\, Colorado\n\nCost: $450 URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/leading-the-cwpp-process/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-7.32.35-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230315T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230315T120000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T144858Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T144922Z UID:1686-1678876200-1678881600@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Short-interval high-severity reburns change the playing field for forest recovery DESCRIPTION:March 15\, 10:30am-12pm MDT\nInformation and registration\nReburns\, sequential overlapping fires occurring in an unusually short timeframe\, are expected to become more common and widespread with increases in fire-conducive weather. \nJoin researchers Kristin Braziunas and Tyler Hoecker discussing recent studies in the Greater Yellowstone and Glacier National Park looking at post-fire recovery after short-interval reburns. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/webinar-short-interval-high-severity-reburns-change-the-playing-field-for-forest-recovery/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-01-at-2.21.12-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230314T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230314T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T144216Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T144216Z UID:1679-1678806000-1678813200@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Firelab - featuring Megan Matonis\, The Ember Alliance DESCRIPTION:March 14\, 2023\, 3-5pm \nTap and Handle\, 307 South College Avenue Fort Collins\, CO 80524 INDOOR • UPPER LEVEL \n  \nInspiring Action after the Planning is Done \nCommunity Wildfire Protection Plans help a community assess local hazards and identify strategic actions to mitigate risk and promote preparedness. CWPPs set the stage for fire adaptation\, but they only result in real change with on-the-ground action and an ongoing commitment to risk mitigation at all levels of the community\, from individual homeowners to neighborhoods to fire protection districts to land managers and other partners. The Ember Alliance has worked with eight communities in Jefferson and Larimer Counties to prepare CWPPs\, and we are currently working with three more communities along the Front Range. Through trial-and-error and best practices from other experts in the field\, we have learned a lot about how to use the CWPP process to inspire action. We want to share these lessons with you\, both the success stories and not-so-successful stories\, and facilitate a conversation with FireLab participants about other ways to make CWPPs more than just planning documents. \nMegan Matonis \nWildland Fire Analyst\, The Ember Alliance \nAs a Wildfire Analyst with The Ember Alliance\, Dr. Matonis conducts risk analyses\, supports community engagement\, and prepares holistic and actionable CWPP documents. She has a PhD in Forest Ecology from Colorado State University and formerly worked with the Colorado State Forest Service and Rocky Mountain Research Station. Meg has been an on-call wildland firefighter with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office for eight years. \n  \n  URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/firelab-featuring-megan-matonis-the-ember-alliance/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-02-at-1.52.07-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230314T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230315T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T143624Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T143624Z UID:1675-1678780800-1678899600@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Montana AgroClimate Workshop for Agricultural & Forestry Professionals and Partners DESCRIPTION:The  Northern Plains Climate  Hub (NPCH) in partnership with  NRCS\, the Montana Association of Conservation Districts\, Intertribal Ag Council — Rocky Mountain Region\, and Montana State University Extension will host the Montana AgroClimate Workshop for Agricultural & Forestry Professionals and Partners. \nMarch 14 and 15\, 2023 in Billings\, MT \n\nIncrease your weather and climate knowledge;\nNetwork with others and build connections;\nGrow confidence to effectively communicate about climate with local agricultural producers;\nDevelop new skills to guide conservation planning for drought and other extreme events.\n\nView the preliminary agenda here  \n\nRegistration is open! Click here to register.\nEarly-Bird: $115/person* through February 15\, 2023 \nLate Registration: $135/person* closes March 5\, 2023 \nA limited number of needs based travel scholarships are available. For information\, contact Windy Kelley at wkelley1@uwyo.edu. URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/montana-agroclimate-workshop-for-agricultural-forestry-professionals-and-partners/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-03-at-7.33.24-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230313T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230313T140000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T144518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T144643Z UID:1684-1678710600-1678716000@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Webinar Series: Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Effects on Wildlife DESCRIPTION:March 13th: \n\nWildfire\, climate\, and invasive Grass Interactions Adversely Affect Sage-Grouse by Reshaping Sagebrush Ecosystems\nPost-fire salvage logging: Do birds respond to amount of snags removed or overall logging activity?\nFrom flames to inflammation: how wildfires affect patterns of wildlife disease\n\n\nInformation and registration URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/webinar-series-wildfire-and-prescribed-fire-effects-on-wildlife-copy/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-01-at-2.21.12-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230306T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230306T140000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230303T144453Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230303T144453Z UID:1681-1678105800-1678111200@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:Webinar Series: Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Effects on Wildlife DESCRIPTION:March 6th: \n\n Northern spotted owl nesting forests as fire refugia: a 30-year synthesis of large wildfires\n Prescribed fire limits wildfire severity without altering ecological importance for birds\n Bats and fire: What we know\, what we need to know\n\nInformation and registration URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/webinar-series-wildfire-and-prescribed-fire-effects-on-wildlife/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-01-at-2.21.12-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230225 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230226 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230124T143609Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230124T143609Z UID:1668-1677283200-1677369599@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:8th Annual Rio Chama Congreso - Water after Wildfire DESCRIPTION:Join us for the 8th annual Rio Chama Watershed Congreso where the topic of the year is Water after Wildfire. \nSat\, February 25\, 2023\, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM MST \nGhost Ranch Education & Retreat Center 280 Private Drive 1708 Highway\, US-84 Abiquiu\, NM 87510 \n  \nWhat is at stake for the Rio Chama region in this era of megafires? As we have seen in nearby watersheds\, one of the answers is water. Save the Date of February 25th for the 8th annual Rio Chama Congreso. We will hear stories about the aftermath of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and impacts to water resources\, look at wildfire risk models for the San Juan-Chama region\, and learn about collaborative efforts to prevent catastrophic wildfire and post-fire impacts in our region. We welcome all folks to join us as we explore the 2023 Congreso theme of “Water After Wildfire”. \n  \nOn February 24th we will be offering Field Trips\, if interested in more information please sign up for the field trip ticket and we will send out details when we have them! URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/8th-annual-rio-chama-congreso-water-after-wildfire/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-7.35.37-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230208T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230208T170000 DTSTAMP:20260414T213548 CREATED:20230124T143950Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230124T143950Z UID:1672-1675846800-1675875600@www.southernrockiesfirescience.org SUMMARY:NoCo Fireshed Risk Assessment for Practitioners DESCRIPTION:On Feb 8\, 9-11am\, the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute (CFRI) will hold a webinar on the recently completed Northern Colorado Fireshed Wildfire Risk Assessment in coordination with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed and the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative. This risk assessment was developed by CFRI in collaboration with dozens of stakeholder groups spanning the Northern Front Range. The primary objectives of the risk assessment were to support cross-boundary wildfire risk management planning\, focus area identification\, grant development\, and treatment outcomes monitoring. In this webinar\, we hope to aid potential user groups in applying the risk assessment to their own program of work and to spur enhanced cross-boundary collaboration. \nSpecifically\, this webinar aims to: 1) Provide a brief overview of the risk assessment model and the collaborative process used to identify values and resources at risk\, rank landscape priorities\, and estimate resource responses to wildfire; 2) Review the numerous data outputs of the wildfire risk model so that stakeholders are comfortable working with the products in their own quantitative analyses; 3) Present case studies and specific suggestions for data uses; 4) Initiate a collaborative discussion to foster coordinated planning\, data sharing\, and lessons learned \n\nTime \n\nFeb 8\, 2023 09:00 AM in Mountain Time (US and Canada) \n\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElduiqqjkrH92c_LuviOkqCcCHeqEAMisS URL:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/event/noco-fireshed-risk-assessment-for-practitioners/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.southernrockiesfirescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-7.38.33-AM.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR