POSITION SUMMARY

The Fire Management Crew Leader travels extensively throughout Arkansas leading a crew responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves, private lands and management areas.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Fire Management Crew Leader is responsible for the day-to-day direction and leadership of a Fire Management Crew, including delegation of crewmember duties and coordination with supervisor and project managers. S/he assists with preparation and implementation of prescribed burns (including fireline construction and mop up), ecological and fire effects monitoring activities, and development of stewardship and prescribed burn plans as well as site fire management plans. S/he also directs and conducts routine preserve management activities when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire such as, but not limited to, fire planning and monitoring, invasive species control, planting and woody vegetation removal.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2017.

The Forest Stewards Guild is hiring a full-time position in New Mexico. The Southwest Program Assistant position will be based out of our Santa Fe office. The job will be grounded in active projects. The position will assist with a variety of projects including community forestry, fire adapted communities, prescribed fire, ecological and socioeconomic monitoring, and youth training initiatives.

The successful candidate will have a degree in forestry, ecology, natural resource management, or related field with professional experience, a valid driver’s license, excellent communication and written skills, and be able to work outdoors in remote locations. The Southwest Program Assistant will work on active projects related to our Forest Stewards Youth Corps program, forest restoration and prescribed fire projects, Fire Adapted Communities, Community Wildfire Protection Planning, and ecological and socioeconomic monitoring. Assignments will combine field work, writing, and engaging with colleagues and the public through meetings and outreach. The successful candidate will work well as a team, with collaborative groups, have excellent communication and presentation skills, have experience with data bases, websites, and mapping software. 

For additional information and to apply, click HERE.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Fire Management Technician will participate in preparing fire lines, maintaining equipment, post-burn monitoring and other tasks. As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, he/she will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials. In addition, they shall work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works. This may include participation in fire activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Will perform other preserve management duties when conditions are not conducive to prescribed fire such as, but not limited to, fire planning and monitoring, invasive species control, planting and woody vegetation removal.
• Works in a high stress team environment.
• Works under close supervision.
• Ability to perform heavy physical work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2017.

Urgent! New Deadline for USFS employees. Travel requests for Fire Congress need to be submitted to Meetings Management by June 19.
 
The 7th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress in Orlando, Florida is five months away, but now is the time to sign up with your Event Coordinator for Meetings Management System (MMS) travel approval. The deadline is June 19th for this list of potential attendees to be received by your Regional Office MMS Event Coordinator. If you think you might attend the Fire Congress, get approval from your supervisor to attend, then notify your Event Coordinator as soon as possible.
 
Be advised that Rx-310 is offered in conjunction with this conference, so students and cadre must register for the conference and thus are subject to this MMS requirement if you want to take the Rx-310 course. Please forward this message to potential Rx-310 students and anyone else considering attending this conference in any capacity.
 
The Fire Congress in Orlando will be the largest gathering of fire experts in the world this year, and we have added several new features to our program to facilitate even better exchanges between researchers and managers. You will not want to miss it!  Even if you are uncertain at this time about your ability to attend the event this November, now is the time to add your name to the list of potential candidates for travel approval.
 

Here's some info to speed up the process: 

Please share this notice with other FS employees that may be interested in attending this conference.

RESPONSIBILITIES: This is a tenure-track, academic-year position. The successful candidate will be expected to: 1) teach two upper-division undergraduate courses (forest economics and forest resources management) and 2) develop a leading research and/or extension program in forest resource management and/or economics that addresses critical issues at the state, national, and/or international levels. The balance of research and/or extension will be negotiated depending on candidate’s interest and background. Interdisciplinary collaboration across the department’s diverse natural resources faculty will be essential. Depending on the candidate’s interest, a courtesy appointment in the Department of Agricultural Economics is possible.

QUALIFICATIONS: A Ph.D. in natural resource management or economics, with a focus on forest resource issues. Candidates should have 1) previous experience successfully teaching university courses; 2) demonstrated scholarship in research and/or extension through publication in refereed journals, 3) demonstrated success or the potential to develop a vigorous, extramurally funded research and/or extension program, and 4) demonstrated success working on research teams addressing multi-disciplinary problems. Undergraduate or graduate training and/or work experience in forestry is strongly preferred.

For more information click here.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and FEMA Region IX are seeking proposals from regional partners in California that are interested in receiving technical assistance to build resilience to natural disasters.

View more information in this PDF >

The technical assistance will include:

•  A facilitated process based on ready-to-use tools on how to:
•  Engage project partners
• Assess vulnerability and develop mitigation strategies
• Take action and implement projects
• Measure progress
• Networking with state, federal, and peer experts on disaster resilience.

Your region may need help getting started with early steps like engaging a broad coalition of partners, or you may be ready to focus on taking action in the form of built projects and policy changes. EPA and FEMA are interested in working with regional partners at any stage in the process.

This is not a grant. This is technical assistance provided through an EPA contract used to hire consultants who are experts in community engagement, meeting facilitation, disaster resilience, and smart growth.

This process is different from related resilience efforts because it is focused on a larger geography across multiple jurisdictions and is designed to address a range of natural disasters. This assistance will be a short-term engagement with one on-site workshop. The EPA-hired consultant will provide a clear next steps memo about the process and how your region can implement disaster resilience actions. The EPA-FEMA team will also help your region consolidate and comply with federal and state planning requirements, potentially provide funding support, and help establish lasting partnerships with state and federal agencies to support your regional action plan.

In addition, this process will help EPA and FEMA refine our materials, which will be used in other parts of California and in other states across the country.

EPA and FEMA are requesting letters of interest be submitted by June 30. Eligible entities include multiple jurisdictions that are working together, as well regional organizations that operate at a multi-state, multi-county, or multi-city/town scale. Please see the attached Request for Letters of Interest for more details about the project and how to prepare a letter of interest.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Abby Hall at EPA: hall.abby@epa.gov, (415) 972-3384.

The goal of this survey is to better understand how wildfire practitioners across the Western United States are implementing the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Your responses will be used to provide guidance to the Western Region. All responses are confidential. If you have any questions, or would like a summary of the findings, please contact Tamara Wall at tamara.wall@dri.edu.

Click here to participate in this survey.

Click here for a list of JFSP funded projects.

The complexity and importance of wildland fire science, management, and decision-making is at an all-time high across our Nation and worldwide. To meet current and future challenges of workforce development, analysis, and sound decision-making, AFE has developed a process for recognizing academic programs which prepare future fire professionals. Our overarching goal is to support fire ecology and ecologically-based fire management while advancing fire science and its application.

With the many wildland fire programs across the nation, certified programs should attract more students into their programs. Graduating students from and AFE Certified program will qualify for an expedited application process to become an AFE Certified Wildland Fire Manager, Ecologist, or Professional. Recognized programs will also be listed on the AFE website, in our newsletter, and in other AFE promotional materials.

Recognized levels Programs can be Certified (good for 5 years) or Candidate (review and update within 3 to 6 years). Each program will get clear feedback from AFE about ways to strengthen their program to meet the goals of certification.

Applications are due annually on July 1 and decision notifications are given by January 1. The application form is available at the bottom of this AFE page.

The Georgia Forestry Commission is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. The Director is responsible for supervision of 650+ personnel with an annual operating budget of more than $60 million. In addition, the Director serves as administrative officer and executive secretary of the Commission and represents the Commission in other forestry related organizations.

Candidates for this position should possess the following:

• Ability to develop and successfully co mmunicate a vision of leadership in establishing and maintaining a successful top level forestry organization;
• Ability to work effectively with legislative and executive branches of state government;
• Demonstrated leadership and communication skills to work effectively with forest landowners, industry, the environmental education community, and a wide range of natural resource agencies and NGO partners;
• Demonstrated experience with budgetary development and management; and
• A Bachelor of Science degree in forestry or significant experience in forest management. A degree in forestry is not required.

For more information click here.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Conservancy currently owns and manages more than 3,000 acres of nature preserves in the Lower Cedar Valley. Featuring two globally rare plant communities, lowland oak savanna and alluvial fens, along with floodplain forest, emergent marshes and sedge meadows, plant diversity exceeds 400 species across the landscape. With 70% of the herptile diversity of Iowa represented within this landscape, it was designated as Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Area in 2007, the first of its kind in the nation. Visitwww.nature.org/iowa to learn more.

The Eastern Iowa Assistant Land Steward performs and participates in preserve operations, maintenance and management under the direction of the Eastern Iowa Land Steward. Preserve management tasks include: building and repairing fence, invasive species control, preserve and easement monitoring, prescribed fire, and timber stand improvement. This position will also assist with maintenance of preserve infrastructure, tools, and power equipment. The Assistant Land Steward will assist with training and supervision of seasonal employees and interns and may also lead volunteer workdays. S/he will work with livestock and producers in the area. The position is based at the Lower Cedar River Valley office near Letts, IA; however, work will entail overnight or longer travel to other preserves in eastern Iowa and occasionally to other locations in the region.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintain preserve areas frequented by the visiting public
• Removes exotic species
• Maintains/builds fence
• Conducts preserve monitoring
• May assist in prescribed burns
• Maintain tools, equipment and land.
• Maintain preserve records using a database or PC.

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 25th, 2017.

A Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) is needed to serve as a Fire Ecologist for the Reserva de la Biosfera los Petenes (RBLP) in San Francisco de Campeche, Mexico. Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve has the particularity of having ecosystems that depend on fire like marsh areas locally known as tulares y popales, as well as sensitive ecosystems like mangroves, seasonally evergreen forests and hammocks locally known as “petenes”. One of the threats in this landscape is the alteration of fire regimes, in other words, an alteration in the frequency, intensity, timing, severity of fire in ecosystems. These changes result from direct anthropogenic activities as well as public policies focused on the exclusion of fire. In fire-dependent ecosystems there is exclusion of fire, while in the sensitive ones there are recurrent fires associated with agriculture and hunting activities. The capacity of ecosystems to maintain their functions (i.e. regulation of hydrological flows) is compromised as a result of the alteration of the fire regime. These changes in fire regimes and ecosystems service provision affects the human communities within the protected natural area and the distant human communities that benefit indirectly from these ecosystem services.

A Fire Ecologist, with at least a degree in natural sciences, biology, natural resources management, or a related field or more than 10 years of wild land fire planning and ecological monitoring experience, is needed to collaborate with the Reserve’s team providing oversight, guidance and training in the development and implementation of an ecologically based fire management program that reduces risks to communities and creates Climate-Change resilient ecosystems. The work will be done through field assessments, GIS and development of a Fire Ecology program through a comprehensive vegetation monitoring plan. The PCRV will conduct a field assessment, collection of data through GIS, co-development of a vegetation monitoring plan, and training on and implementation of a fire ecology program. The goal of this assignment is to produce a comprehensive prescribed fire strategy and monitoring plan for Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve.

For more information and to apply, click HERE.

If you have any questions regarding this opening, do not hesitate to contact Ashley Lenihan at 202.692.216 or alenihan@peacecorps.gov

The School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University has one 3-year Ph.D. research assistantship available to work on the economics, logistics and sustainability of woody biomass feedstock harvested from the fuels-reduction treatments in ponderosa pine and warm-dry mixed conifer forests of the southern Rocky Mountains. This student will work on projects designed to improve the viability and adoption of biomass-based energy and products production and to provide a better understanding of the economic implications of utilizing small-diameter woody biomass harvested from the treatments to generate bioenergy and bioproducts in the southwestern region.

For more information visit the full announcement here.

OPENING DAY May 27th:

Fires of Change & Landscapes of Life & Death at 516 ARTS, 516 Central Ave SW
Albuquerque. Download a brochure for more events here.

3:30pm: Talk with Artists & Scientists
5-6pm: Friends of 516 ARTS Preview
6-8pm: Public Reception

Visit the 516 ARTS website.
For a history of the project, visit the SWFSC website.

POSITION SUMMARY:
Coordinates, develops, plans, communicates, makes recommendations for, and markets: programs, events, and activities related to the Center for Environmental Studies (CES) and Austin College Thinking Green (ACTG). Coordinates the activities of ACTG and the Student Sustainability Fund (SSF) by supervising and advising student leaders and members. Assists with writing and administering program grants, greenhouse gas inventories, sustainability reporting, and all aspects of Sneed Prairie Restoration experiment. Trains, directs, and monitors student volunteers/workers.

To view the full announcement, click HERE.

You are invited to participate in the continuing evaluation of the Joint Fire Science Program’s Fire Science Exchange Network. This web-based survey focuses on the communication and application of fire science research results and resources. Sponsors are specifically interested in knowing about your opinions and experiences with the Fire Science Exchange in your region. This evaluation project is based at the University of Nevada, Reno and includes all of the Fire Science Exchanges across the United States. Your responses to the questions will be used to help the JFSP Fire Science Exchange Network address your fire science information needs and ultimately enhance fire science delivery.

The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. JFSP realizes that some of you may have completed a version of this survey in the past. Continued participation of prior respondents and participation from new respondents is essential in helping the JFSP Fire Science Exchanges progress toward their goals. Your participation in this study is voluntary, and all of your responses will remain completely confidential. Please click on the following link or copy and paste the link into your web browser:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JFSP2017Evaluation

If you have any questions or problems accessing the survey, please contact Evaluation Coordinator Bret Davis at bretd@unr.edu telephone (775) 784-6637. During the next four weeks, you will receive two follow-up emails regarding your invitation to participate in this survey.

Thank you for your time and involvement in helping the JFSP to learn more about how to improve fire science delivery and communication in your region.

Bill Evans, Ph.D., Professor of and Human Development and Education, University of Nevada, Reno (wevans@unr.edu)

Loretta Singletary, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Department of Economics; Interdisciplinary Outreach Liaison, Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Reno (singletaryl@unr.edu)

Bret Davis, Ph.D., Research and Evaluation Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Nevada, Reno (bretd@unr.edu)

Chris Copp, MA, Doctoral Student, Interdisciplinary Social Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno (christopherjcopp@gmail.com)

Challenge Summary:

Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies are interested in new ways to monitor air quality during fire events to better protect public health. Air quality managers and public health officials have limited access to accurate information on ground-level air pollution levels in the vicinity of wildland fires, making it difficult to provide appropriate strategies to minimize smoke exposure. Most air pollution monitoring equipment is large, not easily transportable, and complex to operate. Today, emerging technologies – including miniaturized direct-reading sensors, compact/powerful microprocessors, and wireless data communications – offer the opportunity to develop new systems to quickly gather and communicate air pollution data.

Wild fires are increasingly common events that produce significant air pollution, posing health risks to first responders, residents in nearby areas, and downwind communities. Also, wild fires are increasing in frequency and intensity, and the fire season is growing longer.  Prescribed fires, which are used to manage ecosystems or reduce risk of wild fires, are typically managed to minimize downwind impacts on populated areas; however, people in close proximity may still be exposed to smoke.  The description “wildland fires” refers to both wild and prescribed fires.

This challenge seeks a field-ready prototype system capable of measuring constituents of smoke, including particulates, carbon monoxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide, over the wide range of levels expected during wildland fires. The prototype system should be accurate, light-weight, easy to operate, and capable of wireless data transmission, so that first responders and nearby communities have access to timely information about local air quality conditions during wildland fire events.

For more information, click HERE.

Job Description:

Summary:

This is a nine-month, tenure-track, academic appointment with additional three-month summer employment available and expected, the latter supported primarily from research grant funding. Initial summer support will be available.          

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach (50%) undergraduate courses such as Forest Fire Ecology, Forest Pests and Protection, Dendrology, and Natural Resources Management, as well as graduate courses in the area of expertise.
• Conduct scholarly research (40%) in forest fire ecology, management, and health.
• Service (10%) to the department, university, and community by serving on committees, advising students, participating in recruitment activities and in stakeholder outreach.
• Supervise master and doctoral level graduate students and serve on graduate student committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

For more information, click HERE.