Eastern Fire Portal

The Prairie Restoration Specialist’s (PRS) primary function is to organize daily logistics, promote crew cohesion, and to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Daily duties will focus on native seed harvest and processing, drying, and storing seed for 100+ acres of prairie restorations.  PRS will coordinate efforts of a three-person intern crew daily, and additional volunteers, staff, and cooperators intermittently.  The PRS will regularly canvass native prairie sites to prioritize both species and focal areas for seed collection efforts.  The PRS may assist in prescribed burns and maintain tools, equipment and land.  Other duties may include invasive species control and vegetation monitoring.  The PRS will maintain detailed records using field journals, a database.

The PMA will work across central and southeast Minnesota.  They will assist with leading volunteers, seasonal staff and interns. They will participate preserve management tasks including prescribed burning activities, removal and chemical treatment of exotic species, tool and equipment maintenance, seed harvest, and monitoring and data collection. This may also include participation in wild land fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee, or as a volunteer or short-term employee of the partner entity (such as an administratively determined, short term federal employee).  More detailed information follows.

The Conservation Practitioner III (CPIII) will serve as the primary liaison between TNC and Conservation Corps Minnesota (CCM).  They will lead work teams to ensure the coordination, community support and implementation of preserve management plans throughout the Ordway Glacial Lakes landscape (central Minnesota) utilizing CCM crews. Management activities include assisting with prescribed burning, clearing and mowing firebreaks, repairing and organizing burn equipment, tree and brush cutting, fence construction/removal, parking area maintenance, maintaining vehicles and mileage log sheets, meeting with local landowners, identifying management needs for preserves, assisting with field trips, working with volunteers and contractors, and other land management tasks as needed.  The CPIII maintains preserve areas frequented by the visiting public, removes exotic species and/or monitors and researches species, maintains tools and equipment and operates heavy machinery.  This management will occur on lands owned by TNC as well as other public lands within central Minnesota. Additional functions may include contract planning and project oversight working with a wide array of private contractors.  This is a full-time seasonal, term position with a start date of March, 26, 2019 and end date of September 27, 2019.  This term position is funded through a LSOHC grant.

The Land Stewardship Fellowship is a unique opportunity to challenge and enhance your natural resource background through the legacy of Aldo Leopold. Working side-by-side with experienced staff, fellows will assist with management activities on the foundation’s 2,000-acre property. Surrounding Aldo Leopold’s famous Shack, the property has both restored and remnant native Wisconsin habitat ranging from prairies to floodplain forests to sedge meadows to oak savannas. This diverse outdoor classroom provides opportunities to learn first-hand about native plant communities, identify threats to native landscapes, and gain effective tools and strategies to efficiently manage a number of diverse ecosystems. As seasons change, management focuses on different activities including invasive species control, prescribed burning, monitoring, prairie planting, and more. Fellows will have the opportunity to interact with both a diverse range of conservation professionals and the Leopold family, who play active roles in guiding and executing the foundation’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with land management activities on the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area. This includes but is not limited to prescribed fire, herbaceous and woody invasive species treatment, timber stand improvement, prairie planting and establishment, brush management, plant identification, mowing etc.
• Document management activities in summary reports, grant tracking documents, etc.
• Maintain ALF equipment and vehicles. Includes routine maintenance, shop organization, equipment repair, etc.
• Attend professional development trainings focusing on the seven core areas of the Future Leaders Program. These trainings will constitute approximately 20% of the total fellowship hours.
• Provide support and logistics for on-site programming including crane congregation tours, property tours for outside groups, Shack tours, educational programming, front desk staffing, etc.
• Become familiar with the life and work of Aldo Leopold and his family. Explore your own connection to and understanding of land thics.
• Become familiar with the work of all foundation staff and how each member contributes to the mission.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Urban WildF.I.R.E. (Fire Integrative Research Experience) is an intensive, interdisciplinary workshop that provides experiential learning at the intersection between urban forestry and wildland fire. This workshop is a collaborative effort between Michigan State University, Tennessee State University, and the US Forest Service.

Eligible applicants for Urban WildF.I.R.E. include students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or master’s degree-granting program at an accredited US college or university. Traditionally underrepresented students majoring in forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, or related fields, and those pursuing degrees at 1890 and 1994 Land-grant institutions are strongly encouraged to apply.

***All costs for airfare to and from the workshop in Michigan, in addition to all lodging expenses, will be covered for each workshop attendee.***

All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm PST, February 7, 2020.

Please help the Southwest Fire Science Consortium evaluate their impact on the fire community. Have they affected how you interact with your science and/or management colleagues or how you use or share science?

Follow the link below below and complete a short survey!

The Land Stewardship Coordinator is responsible for leading the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s Stewardship Fellows to implement land management plans on the foundation’s and partnering private lands.

Critical duties include:

• Invasive species management (e.g., garlic mustard, buckthorn, etc.)
• Prescribed burning, including large and complex units
• Timber management practices
• Project monitoring and record-keeping for adaptive planning and management
• Initiate and administercost-share agreements and grants
• Equipment care and maintenance

The Burn Crew/Land Management Tech (BCLMT) will work in the Agassiz Beach Ridges Landscape in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion (western Minnesota) as part of a crew managing prairie tracts and restorations as well as being responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves in this landscape.  Technician duties will include vegetation management (herbicide applications, brush removal, tree removal, mowing, biological control, etc.), equipment maintenance and organization, hand collecting native prairie seed, firebreak installation, boundary posting, fencing and assist with controlled burns.

As part of the prescribed burn crew, the Preserve Management Assistant (PMA) will be responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves under the direction of a Prescribed Burn Leader.  The PMA must use safety equipment and maintain a safety-conscious attitude at all times. Tasks include assisting with preserve management activities such as prescribed burning, applying herbicides, clearing and mowing firebreaks, boundary posting, repairing and organizing burn equipment, tree and brush cutting, fence construction/removal, constructing parking areas, maintaining vehicles and equipment, meeting with local landowners, identifying management needs for preserves, assisting with field trips, leading volunteers, and other land management tasks as necessary.  This position requires irregular hours, travel on short notice and the ability to work weekends.  Employees are required to live in TNC provided housing due to the remote setting of this work location and the need to report to duty on short notice.  If an employee already lives in the area or is able to obtain housing within a close proximity to this work location, and the employee is able to report for duty within 30 minutes, then the employee may live offsite.  Transportation from The Nature Conservancy office to the various preserves will be provided by The Nature Conservancy.   This is a full-time (40 hr/week) seasonal position with a start date of March 23, 2020 and end date of October 30, 2020.

The Preserve Management Assistant will travel within the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands landscape in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion (Northwestern Minnesota and southern Manitoba, Canada) as part of a landscape-based spring and fall prescribed burn crew as well as part of a multi-person crew managing nature preserves during the summer months. As part of the prescribed burn crew, the Preserve Management Assistant will be responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves under the direction of a Prescribed Burn Leader. 

The Preserve Management Assistant will travel within the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands landscape in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion (Northwestern Minnesota and southern Manitoba, Canada) as part of a landscape-based spring and fall prescribed burn crew as well as part of a multi-person crew managing nature preserves during the summer months. As part of the prescribed burn crew, the Preserve Management Assistant will be responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various nature preserves under the direction of a Prescribed Burn Leader. 

(Note there is another similar position with a shorter employment period also available at this location as well as other locations in MN-ND-SD).

The PMA will work across central and southeast Minnesota.  They will assist with leading volunteers, seasonal staff and interns. They will participate preserve management tasks including prescribed burning activities, removal and chemical treatment of exotic species, tool and equipment maintenance, seed harvest, and monitoring and data collection. This may also include participation in wild land fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee, or as a volunteer or short-term employee of the partner entity (such as an administratively determined, short term federal employee).  More detailed information follows.

The Burn Crew Member participates in wild land fire operations which include ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, monitoring, and other tasks as assigned.

This is a short-term position from April 14, 2020 through June 5, 2020.  There are 2 openings for this position available at this location.

The Steward leads work teams to ensure the coordination, community support and implementation of preserve management plans throughout the Ordway Glacial Lakes landscape (central Minnesota). Management activities include assisting with prescribed burning, clearing and mowing firebreaks, repairing and organizing burn equipment, tree and brush cutting, fence construction/removal, parking area maintenance, maintaining vehicles and mileage log sheets, meeting with local landowners, identifying management needs for preserves, assisting with field trips, working with volunteers and contractors, and other land management tasks as needed.  The Steward maintains preserve areas frequented by the visiting public, removes exotic species and/or monitors and researches species, maintains tools and equipment and operates heavy machinery.  Additional functions may include contract planning and project oversight working with a wide array of private contractors.  This is a full-time seasonal, term position with a start date of March, 31, 2020 and end date of November 13, 2020.  This term position is funded through an LSOHC grant, in combination with TNC operational funds.

The Crew Leader will lead a crew of two and gain exposure to two major science and conservation initiatives within our chapter’s grassland ecosystems. TNC is working with partners to evaluate broad changes in condition of native grasslands in response to grazing and fire. The project is a collaborative effort in which multiple agencies and organizations have overlapping goals (TNC, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, USFWS, etc.). Partners in this work are coordinating sampling to compare data and management practices across ownerships throughout the prairie region. With the assistance of the Crew Leader and team, TNC will revisit sites on which management has been implemented to measure the outcomes. The team will fill a critical role in helping our chapter to close the adaptive management loop in our grassland conservation work. The team will also spend time contributing to monitoring outcomes for the impacts of fire on habitat quality for the federally threatened Dakota skipper butterfly. For both of these projects, the Crew Leader and team will have the opportunity to travel to many of TNC’s preserves across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota experiencing first-hand the beauty of many high-quality native prairie landscapes.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Conducts legal compliance monitoring and drafts compliance reports; enters monitoring data; assists in training volunteers to conduct legal compliance monitoring; works with Preserves Manager to notify parties in the event of a violation.
• Works with Stewardship Program Assistant and Preserves Manager on volunteer mailings.
• Works with stewardship staff and volunteers to perform preserve maintenance tasks (maintains signs and registration boxes, clear and maintain trails, mark boundaries, invasive species control).
• Interacts with preserve visitors by providing information, promoting the Conservancy, answering questions, and enforcing preserve policies.
• Researches and acquires ecological and legal information and field collects natural resource information pertinent to the management of Maine Chapter preserves and conservation easements and assists with updating preserve management plans.
• Deals with problems as they arise on preserves (may include timber and other forms of trespass, unauthorized vehicular use, camping, etc.).
• Assists stewardship staff with ecological monitoring throughout the state.
• Assists with maintenance of basic equipment such as hand and power tools, chainsaws, outboard boat motors, etc.
• Participates, when available and as certified, as crew member on controlled burns in Maine.
• Assists with special projects as needed.

The Southern Maine Land Steward/Burn Crew Leader helps with all aspects of the Maine Chapter's southern Maine stewardship program and assists with work at Southern Maine preserves. Field work includes prescribed-fire preparation and implementation, trail construction and maintenance, equipment operation (chain saw, brush saw, UTV, ATV, tractor) and maintenance, boundary maintenance, biological monitoring, leading nature walks, interacting with preserve visitors and enforcing preserve policies. The Land Steward may be required to work occasional weekends and will be required to work outdoors in demanding conditions including poor weather. 

This is a full-time, 26 week, temporary position that begins in April 2020 and ends in October 2020 (flexible).  The position is based in the Conservancy’s Wells, Maine office with some possible travel to other northeast states.

The Rutgers University Pinelands Field Station is a biological research station providing easy access to a wide range of ecosystems in the New Jersey Pine Barrens for research projects and field study in university courses. The station hosts a number of graduate students, undergraduate students and affiliated researchers from the Rutgers community as well as from many other universities. The U.S. Forest Service also conducts research at the station. Located in Silas Little Experimental Forest, the station became formally affiliated with the Rutgers University Division of Pinelands Research in 1985. Its facilities include laboratories, a greenhouse and growth chambers, a meeting room, a workshop and a dormitory. A weather station is also located on the property.

Project: The University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources is seeking a PhD-level graduate student to participate in research examining the effectiveness of restoration, adaptation, and transition management techniques at fostering forest health and productivity in the face of novel climate, insect, and disease threats. This research will assess silvicultural experiments co-developed with stakeholder input with application to both urban and rural forest settings. The student will join a team of collaborators from the University of Vermont, U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, and Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center in developing management options to promote diverse and productive rural and urban forests despite the stress of climate change and other disturbance agents. The position is available for Summer/Fall 2020 and includes four guaranteed years of funding (stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance).

Qualifications: M.S. in forest ecology, forestry, silviculture, biology or a closely related field.  Applicants should be able to work independently, but also cooperatively with other researchers and managers on the larger project. Applicants should also have a strong work ethic, demonstrated writing and quantitative capabilities, and a record of leadership.

Application: Interested applicants should supply all application materials to the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) Program (PhD in Natural Resources) by February 1, 2020 – when applying, please state your interest in this position in the “Statement of Purpose.”