NewsletterApril 10 2018

NC State ParksRestoring the landscape with

FIREThe NC Division of State Parks amp

Recreation has completed controlled burns on approximately 4800 acres since January to a variety of park properties statewide Many of those burns have been jointly conducted on long fire suppressed areas through partnerships with the NC Forest Service US Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy With the diversity of natural communities wildlife and public uses found within State Parks there are numerous opportunities to conduct burns almost any month of the year somewhere in North Carolina NC State Parks will continue these activities throughout 2018 as opportunities arise so plan a visit to a park soon to begin watching nature work as we restore fire to the landscape

Photos by Morrow Mountain Superintendent Jefferey Davidson

By Christa Furtsch Rogers Natural Resources Manager - Mecklenburg County - Nature Preserves and Natural Resources

Mecklenburg County Natural Resources Coordinator Matthew Harrell recently spoke to the NC Invasive Plant Council regarding a study that Mecklenburg County has conducted over the past several years examining the use of prescribed fire to control autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) The protocol for the study was based on FFI a software tool for ecological monitoring Mecklenburg County staff used prescribed fire from 2010-2017 on several different units and measured the changes in shrub density The results showed obvious visual changes to areas impacted by autumn olive as the fires top-killed the shrubs While the fire rarely killed autumn olive individuals the changes in shrub structure allowed for easier and cheaper follow-up herbicide treatments while also preventing the remaining top-killed shrubs from fruiting for several years While the FFI study has concluded the county plans to continue using prescribed fire as an effective means to achieve autumn olive control

Mecklenburg County Natural Resources Coordinator Matthew Harrell recently spoke to the NC Invasive Plant Council

Controlling Autumn Olive with fire

By Greg Philipp - District FMO - US Forest Service Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District

As of March 29 2018 the National Forests of North Carolina completed 16687 acres of prescribed burning 2081 acres on the NantahalaPisgah 1448 on the Uwharrie and 13158 on the Croatan The

weather conditions have hampered efforts in the mountains but there are several weeks of dormant season burning left and we are looking forward to experimenting with some growing season burning in the Summer The Croatan and Uwharrie will continue burning as conditions and funding allows

Photos LampR are from burning on the Croatan

National Forests of NC complete a lot of burning improving ecosystems across the state

New fire employee on boardBy Mark Megalos PhD Extension Professor- Forestry Resources NC State University

Laurel Kays is the new Extension Assistant with NC State Extension Forestry working on prescribed fire outreach with a regional focus on the Southeast She will be working closely with Extension Associate Jennifer Fawcett on multiple projects notably those related to the SERPPASrsquo Prescribed Fire Working Group and Sentinel Landscapes Kays will also work on wildland fire including work with the Southern Fire Exchange Kays previously worked as the Forestry Project Manager for the Southwestern NC Resource Conservation amp Development (RCampD) Council a non-profit based in Waynesville NC That position covered grant-based projects most significantly working with organizational partners and landowners to reduce wildfire risk She has also worked in forestry and conservation outreach for organizations including the National Park Service as well as in Washington DC on technology policy issues She holds a Master of Science in Forestry from North Carolina State University as well as an undergraduate degree in Government amp Politics from the University of Maryland College Park

Contact her directly at lekaysncsuedu (919) 513-2573

Annual Meeting Dr Joe Roise NC Prescribed Fire Council Vice President is standing up an annual planning committee

for August 2-3 in Asheboro at the NC Zoo Watch for registration announcement and details A draft agenda is in place a tour with multiple stops in the Uwharries is planned Roise is taking suggestions or speaker request titles and timeslots Contact him directly joe_roisencsuedu Phone 919-515-7783

NC Prescribed Fire Council Strategic Plan updateA group of volunteer authors of the last strategic plan is reviewing a summary sheet of accomplishments

that took place since the current plan was launched in 2013 Accomplishment areas have been aligned with the three focal areas being floated for the new plan that will be presented at the annual meeting Look for a draft for review following the next board meeting where the plan is expected to get itrsquos official launch of discussionrsquos and comments before council approval at the August meeting

Contact the Secretary Lisa Jennings lisanjenningsfsfedus or Mark Megalos mamegaloncsuedu for a copy of the Accomplishment Report or for the 1 page Strategic Plan Outline

NC Agent TrainingJennifer Fawcett - Extension Associate amp SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group Coordinator - College of Natural Resources NCSU

An Agent training was held in February to teach Extension County Agents about wildland fire including how to determine wildfire risk in their county how to mitigate it with prescribed burning available cost share opportunities and more More than 40 agents and volunteers participated in three events that were held across the state As part of the training they were able to see a demonstration burn as well as learn how to conduct some smaller demonstrations that can be done in a K-12 classroom The next time yoursquore putting on a wildland fire-related program donrsquot forget to include your County Agent

httpswwwcesncsuedu

Guilford Tech offers Fire Protection Emergency Management ProgramJim Hitch a wildland contractor and educator on the west coast has started a Fire Protection

Emergency Management program at Guilford Technical Community College The program is IFSAC accredited and makes it easier for current firefighters to get an associatersquos degree by giving credit for state and national certificates Jim has integrated wildland classes into the program and beginning in the 2019-20 school year we will offer a Fire Protection degree with an emphasis on wildland fire I look forward to working with TNC NC State and other entities throughout the state to enhance our wildland training and education

By Christa Furtsch Rogers Natural Resources Manager - Mecklenburg County - Nature Preserves and Natural Resources

Mecklenburg County Natural Resources Coordinator Matthew Harrell recently spoke to the NC Invasive Plant Council regarding a study that Mecklenburg County has conducted over the past several years examining the use of prescribed fire to control autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) The protocol for the study was based on FFI a software tool for ecological monitoring Mecklenburg County staff used prescribed fire from 2010-2017 on several different units and measured the changes in shrub density The results showed obvious visual changes to areas impacted by autumn olive as the fires top-killed the shrubs While the fire rarely killed autumn olive individuals the changes in shrub structure allowed for easier and cheaper follow-up herbicide treatments while also preventing the remaining top-killed shrubs from fruiting for several years While the FFI study has concluded the county plans to continue using prescribed fire as an effective means to achieve autumn olive control

Mecklenburg County Natural Resources Coordinator Matthew Harrell recently spoke to the NC Invasive Plant Council

Controlling Autumn Olive with fire

By Greg Philipp - District FMO - US Forest Service Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District

As of March 29 2018 the National Forests of North Carolina completed 16687 acres of prescribed burning 2081 acres on the NantahalaPisgah 1448 on the Uwharrie and 13158 on the Croatan The

weather conditions have hampered efforts in the mountains but there are several weeks of dormant season burning left and we are looking forward to experimenting with some growing season burning in the Summer The Croatan and Uwharrie will continue burning as conditions and funding allows

Photos LampR are from burning on the Croatan

National Forests of NC complete a lot of burning improving ecosystems across the state

New fire employee on boardBy Mark Megalos PhD Extension Professor- Forestry Resources NC State University

Laurel Kays is the new Extension Assistant with NC State Extension Forestry working on prescribed fire outreach with a regional focus on the Southeast She will be working closely with Extension Associate Jennifer Fawcett on multiple projects notably those related to the SERPPASrsquo Prescribed Fire Working Group and Sentinel Landscapes Kays will also work on wildland fire including work with the Southern Fire Exchange Kays previously worked as the Forestry Project Manager for the Southwestern NC Resource Conservation amp Development (RCampD) Council a non-profit based in Waynesville NC That position covered grant-based projects most significantly working with organizational partners and landowners to reduce wildfire risk She has also worked in forestry and conservation outreach for organizations including the National Park Service as well as in Washington DC on technology policy issues She holds a Master of Science in Forestry from North Carolina State University as well as an undergraduate degree in Government amp Politics from the University of Maryland College Park

Contact her directly at lekaysncsuedu (919) 513-2573

Annual Meeting Dr Joe Roise NC Prescribed Fire Council Vice President is standing up an annual planning committee

for August 2-3 in Asheboro at the NC Zoo Watch for registration announcement and details A draft agenda is in place a tour with multiple stops in the Uwharries is planned Roise is taking suggestions or speaker request titles and timeslots Contact him directly joe_roisencsuedu Phone 919-515-7783

NC Prescribed Fire Council Strategic Plan updateA group of volunteer authors of the last strategic plan is reviewing a summary sheet of accomplishments

that took place since the current plan was launched in 2013 Accomplishment areas have been aligned with the three focal areas being floated for the new plan that will be presented at the annual meeting Look for a draft for review following the next board meeting where the plan is expected to get itrsquos official launch of discussionrsquos and comments before council approval at the August meeting

Contact the Secretary Lisa Jennings lisanjenningsfsfedus or Mark Megalos mamegaloncsuedu for a copy of the Accomplishment Report or for the 1 page Strategic Plan Outline

NC Agent TrainingJennifer Fawcett - Extension Associate amp SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group Coordinator - College of Natural Resources NCSU

An Agent training was held in February to teach Extension County Agents about wildland fire including how to determine wildfire risk in their county how to mitigate it with prescribed burning available cost share opportunities and more More than 40 agents and volunteers participated in three events that were held across the state As part of the training they were able to see a demonstration burn as well as learn how to conduct some smaller demonstrations that can be done in a K-12 classroom The next time yoursquore putting on a wildland fire-related program donrsquot forget to include your County Agent

httpswwwcesncsuedu

Guilford Tech offers Fire Protection Emergency Management ProgramJim Hitch a wildland contractor and educator on the west coast has started a Fire Protection

Emergency Management program at Guilford Technical Community College The program is IFSAC accredited and makes it easier for current firefighters to get an associatersquos degree by giving credit for state and national certificates Jim has integrated wildland classes into the program and beginning in the 2019-20 school year we will offer a Fire Protection degree with an emphasis on wildland fire I look forward to working with TNC NC State and other entities throughout the state to enhance our wildland training and education

New fire employee on boardBy Mark Megalos PhD Extension Professor- Forestry Resources NC State University

Laurel Kays is the new Extension Assistant with NC State Extension Forestry working on prescribed fire outreach with a regional focus on the Southeast She will be working closely with Extension Associate Jennifer Fawcett on multiple projects notably those related to the SERPPASrsquo Prescribed Fire Working Group and Sentinel Landscapes Kays will also work on wildland fire including work with the Southern Fire Exchange Kays previously worked as the Forestry Project Manager for the Southwestern NC Resource Conservation amp Development (RCampD) Council a non-profit based in Waynesville NC That position covered grant-based projects most significantly working with organizational partners and landowners to reduce wildfire risk She has also worked in forestry and conservation outreach for organizations including the National Park Service as well as in Washington DC on technology policy issues She holds a Master of Science in Forestry from North Carolina State University as well as an undergraduate degree in Government amp Politics from the University of Maryland College Park

Contact her directly at lekaysncsuedu (919) 513-2573

Annual Meeting Dr Joe Roise NC Prescribed Fire Council Vice President is standing up an annual planning committee

for August 2-3 in Asheboro at the NC Zoo Watch for registration announcement and details A draft agenda is in place a tour with multiple stops in the Uwharries is planned Roise is taking suggestions or speaker request titles and timeslots Contact him directly joe_roisencsuedu Phone 919-515-7783

NC Prescribed Fire Council Strategic Plan updateA group of volunteer authors of the last strategic plan is reviewing a summary sheet of accomplishments

that took place since the current plan was launched in 2013 Accomplishment areas have been aligned with the three focal areas being floated for the new plan that will be presented at the annual meeting Look for a draft for review following the next board meeting where the plan is expected to get itrsquos official launch of discussionrsquos and comments before council approval at the August meeting

Contact the Secretary Lisa Jennings lisanjenningsfsfedus or Mark Megalos mamegaloncsuedu for a copy of the Accomplishment Report or for the 1 page Strategic Plan Outline

NC Agent TrainingJennifer Fawcett - Extension Associate amp SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group Coordinator - College of Natural Resources NCSU

An Agent training was held in February to teach Extension County Agents about wildland fire including how to determine wildfire risk in their county how to mitigate it with prescribed burning available cost share opportunities and more More than 40 agents and volunteers participated in three events that were held across the state As part of the training they were able to see a demonstration burn as well as learn how to conduct some smaller demonstrations that can be done in a K-12 classroom The next time yoursquore putting on a wildland fire-related program donrsquot forget to include your County Agent

httpswwwcesncsuedu

Guilford Tech offers Fire Protection Emergency Management ProgramJim Hitch a wildland contractor and educator on the west coast has started a Fire Protection

Emergency Management program at Guilford Technical Community College The program is IFSAC accredited and makes it easier for current firefighters to get an associatersquos degree by giving credit for state and national certificates Jim has integrated wildland classes into the program and beginning in the 2019-20 school year we will offer a Fire Protection degree with an emphasis on wildland fire I look forward to working with TNC NC State and other entities throughout the state to enhance our wildland training and education

Fire scar on the basal double crook Location at or below the surface protects the reproductive buds from injury Loblolly pine is typically killed by fire as its reproductive buds are unprotected along the stem

Shortleaf pine is unique among southern yellow pines in its abilty to vigorously sprout following top-kill by fire Fire allows shortleaf oaks with similar adapttive traits and fire resilency and a diverse understory to thrive

Bill Pickens - NC Forest Service Conifer Silviculturalist

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and its associated plant communities have evolved with fire Fire provides shortleaf an advantage over the less fire-resistant more competitive hardwoods and pines that allow it to establish and maintain a place in the canopy Shortleaf forests need some fire disturbance every 2-15 years to exist Shortleaf pine possesses many traits that enhance itrsquos fire tolerance but the most important may be its ability to sprout Seedlings and saplings top killed by fire rapidly sprout from reproductive buds located in the basal crook a unique root feature of shortleaf Across its wide range shortleaf pine is often found with oaks (blackjack white southern red post) of similar fire resiliency

Unfortunately not all shortleaf seedlings top-killed by fire will sprout How many sprout varies with season of burn seedling size fire intensity and degree of crown scorch Generally one can expect that less than half the seedlings will survive a growing season burn while survival rates as high as 90-percent may result from dormant season burns One study reported 43-percent survival after a mid-April prescribed burn in Arkansas another reported the same survival 43-percent for an April burn and 48-percent for a November burn Results from a January burn in Arkansas showed 90 percent survival Smaller seedlings (frac14 to frac34 inch ground line diameter and 1 to 25-feet tall) are more likely to sprout after top-kill Sprouting ability decreases significantly once the tree reaches

4 to 6-inch ground-line diameter Expect some mortality especially to larger seedlings to occur in the first growing season after sprouting Shortleaf can re-sprout several times However frequent top-kill and repeated sprouting prevents the seedlings from growing into sapling size and reduces stocking numbers One researcher suggests that frequent burning (every 1 to 4 years) promotes natural regeneration but a lower burn frequency (every 8 to 12 years) is needed to allow seedlings to grow large enough so they are not top-killed by fire Shortleaf pine becomes increasingly resistant to fire damage once it is 3 to 4-inches in ground-line diameter and 8 to 15-feet tall Shortleaf pine is not fire proof Some trees particularly seedlings and saplings will be damaged or killed by fire However the many ecological and silvicultural benefits of fire for shortleaf and its plant communities outweigh the risks

Key Pointsbull Fire is a primary disturbance that shapes the composition and structure of the shortleaf forest plant community

shortleaf pine is adapted to fire bull Fire adaptations include a thick platy bark natural resistance to fire scar rot ability to sprout many times after top-kill bull Frequent burns of 1 to 4 years increase seedling recruitment burns applied 8-15 years favor stand establishmentbull Fire can be safely applied to stands that are greater than 4 to 6-inches in ground-line diameter 8 to 16-feet tall and 8 to

15 years oldbull Smaller seedlings less than frac34 - inch ground-line diameter 1 to 25-feet tall and with less than 50 percent crown scorch

have the best chance to sprout and survive fire top-killbull Seedlings top-killed in the dormant season have a better chance of sprouting bull For ecosystem maintenance frequency of fire is preferred over season of fire

Sprouting of Shortleaf Pine after a Fire

By Bruce White ndash GFR Forestry ConsultantsPrivate landowners concerned about the cost of prescribed burning have several options to potentially

get financial assistance in North Carolina The primary sources for such programs are funded at either the state or national level

The primary state sponsored program is the North Carolina Forest Servicersquos Forest Development Program (FDP) which includes many different forest improvement activities one of which is prescribed burning This program ranks potential recipients on a first come first serve priority and is based on a fiscal year running from July-June It is funded by an assessment on the statersquos wood paper and other manufacturing companies It typically will cover 40 percent of the predetermined average per-acre rate for burning but that rate varies by region A forest management practice plan prepared by a registered forester is required along with the cost share application County forest rangers can provide more information regarding this program

The primary federal program is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which is part of the federal Farm Bill and is administered by the US Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) There are more requirements both paperwork and otherwise to qualify for this program and each application is ranked by priority within a specific region Typically this program aims to provide cost share assistance to more than one activity on a property so prescribed burning alone often will not qualify However burning is often a high priority in the ranking process and for landowners with multiple land management goals this program is a good bet Rather than basing cost share on a percentage this program is calculated on a set per-acre rate that may change from one year to the next While the application process can be cumbersome and is not for everyone the financial assistance is significant especially when the cost of constructing extensive fire breaks is considered

Another option administered by the NRCS is the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) which is aimed at forestland that is certified by such bodies as the American Tree Farm System Forest Stewardship Council Sustainable Forestry Initiative or other similar organizations This program also looks for land that is managed utilizing native tree cover in such a way that it eliminates or reduces soil erosion and wildfire risks

For those considering establishing trees on agricultural or pastureland (known as aforestation) another NRCS administered program is the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) Once trees have been established the contract will often require burning as part of the long-term management strategy The cost share provided for this activity is quite significant but itrsquos important to note this program involves more than just burning Each countyrsquos Farm Service Agency office can provide details on this program

For those interested in wildlife habitat management and possible ecosystem restoration another potential source is the US Fish and Wildlife Servicersquos Partners for Fish amp Wildlife Program Projects approved through this program can receive assistance for permanent fire break construction which can be a large investment for many landowners Depending upon the situation this program may also cost share the actual burning if the area in question has been excluded from fire in the recent past or the landowner desires to switch to a series of growing season burns that benefit wildlife and fire dependent natural communities

There is likely more sources of cost share and technical assistance available to landowners and these will be explored in future newsletters as will expanded details of each of the programs listed above Stay tuned

Burning potential for financial assistance

The NC Prescribed Fire Council Bylaws call for elections of board members at the Annual Meeting The annual meeting usually in August starts the council year A new Vice President is elected each year The Vice President moves into the position of Board President the next year The President becomes an advisor to the board for one year following the term as President Treasurer and Secretary have two-year terms which are offset so that the Fire Council is not working to fill both offices the same year Up to three at-large Board positions also serve staggered two-year terms As a result of the staggered terms the Fire Council typically nominates and elects three or four Board members each year

The Council has a Nominating Committee made up of three to four past Presidents The Board must approve the Committee each year The Nominating Committee carefully develops a slate of prospective officers for the upcoming year Care is taken to balance the leadership so that at any time there are members representing each geographic region of the state (Mountains Piedmont and Coastal Plain) each type of member organization (agencies organizations consultants etc) and specialties involved in prescribed burning (implementation training policy and regulations smoke research etc) An effort is made to ensure that the NC Forest Service is always represented on the Board as well The Committee considers nominee characteristics including knowledge of prescribed fire (implementation policy ecology wildlife or safety) and leadership ability There is also the expectation that the Board member will attend at least three to four meetings in person or by phone throughout the year

Each year provides the challenge of nominating Board members Members of the Nominating Committee exchange ideas about individuals they think would be a good fit for the leadership positions on the Board and consider geographic and agency representation Then there is the task of convincing the already very busy natural resource professionals to run for office knowing they may have to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to the job Developing the slate of candidates usually begins in the winter and runs through late spring

After the Nominating Committee secures a slate of prospective Board members (one nominee for each vacant slot) additional nominations are solicited from the membership This is usually during the summer via email and website posting informing the members about the nominees that the committee has identified and allowing at least two weeks for additional nominations The entire membership of the Council becomes in effect the Nominating Committee Each member is given the chance -- and is highly encouraged -- to volunteer to run or to contact others to seek their nomination for office After the period of nominations closes the nominees provide a brief bio about themselves In advance of the annual meeting all Council members are provided with the bios and an election ballot Ballots are received up to and at the Annual Meeting The nominating committee tallies the results and the new Board members including Vice President are named at the Annual Meeting

Seldom have additional nominations been made by the general membership during the call for nominees There could be numerous explanations or combinations of explanations for the lack of

North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Board of Directors Annual Election

NC Prescribed Fire Council Board of Directors

OFFICERSVice President

Secretary

Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERSMember One

Member Two

Member Three

additional nominations Everyone is busy the members like the slate of Board members nominated they do not wish to serve or they canrsquot find someone willing to serve as a Board member At voting time members have occasionally expressed concern about voting for a single candidate rather than choosing from several The Nominating Committee invests considerable time and effort into securing a slate of prospective officers each year expecting the Committee to double that work in order to provide two choices for each office is perhaps neither realistic nor necessary

Members should feel empowered to nominate others More importantly every member should take a turn serving If you support prescribed burning and the Fire Council decide that throughout your career you will commit to serve as a Council Board member for at least one term If everyone did that there could be six to eight candidates for each office every year Also serving on a committee is a great way to show interest in the work that the Prescribed Fire Council does while helping to move the organization forward and it is not out of the question for committee members to get tapped to serve on the Board

Our membership currently stands at 142 there are 71 lifetime members There have been 17 individuals who have served terms on the Board since 2013 and we welcome and encourage others to step forward It has been helpful to the organization to have so many different individuals -- and their perspectives and capabilities -- contribute to the Prescribed Fire Council and helping to meet its mission ldquoto foster cooperation among all parties in North Carolina with an interest or stake in prescribed firerdquo

Burning on NC National Forests

When the Conservancyrsquos Sandhills Burn Boss Mike Norris first arrived in the Sandhills in 2003 he thought things looked a bit monotonous ldquoMy first impression was that it all looked the samerdquo he explains ldquoTo someone who is new to the longleaf pine ecosystem it does all look the samerdquo But the Ohio native soon learned that first impressions can be wrong ldquoI started spending time in different preserves All of them have a unique history of land management Each site has unique characteristics Each site is telling you ndash as a land manager ndash different things Some of the properties have been owned by industrial timber companies Some havenrsquot been managed at all Some have been managed just for pine straw raking Some have been farms Each of them has a challenge How do you restore the site to healthy longleaf forestrdquo

Norris celebrated his 20th anniversary with The Nature Conservancy this winter Now he can look around and see his own handiwork in the areas where he has led repeated burns and other restoration work He also celebrated another milestone this spring ndash leading the planting of the Conservancyrsquos millionth longleaf pine seedling in the Sandhills

Norris a graduate of Bowling Green State with a degree in environmental studies had spent a lot of time outdoors He grew up hunting fishing and hiking And he worked with the Conservancy before he moved to the Sandhills ndash in the Florida Keys and doing oak and prairie restoration in Indiana The North Carolina job was a logical progression ldquoIt was an opportunity to manage my own territory ndash to be the burn boss on sites that I managedrdquo he says ldquoIt was a chance to work on a larger scale than the remnant prairies in Indianardquo

The Conservancy isnrsquot just concerned with its own land Norris is also working with partners to help them manage their land In many cases that publicly owned land was acquired by the Conservancy and transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or the state park system He and his fire crews help burn state game lands and private property

ldquoSome places are desertsrdquo he says ldquoBut if you give it time you can turn a desert in an oasisrdquo

Caption ndash The Conservancyrsquos 2017 Sandhills Fire Crew in a lighter moment Norris is on the far right Photo copy Jeff MarcusTNC

Nature Conservancyrsquos Mike Norris Celebrates 20th Anniversary

• _GoBack
• _GoBack

By Bruce White ndash GFR Forestry ConsultantsPrivate landowners concerned about the cost of prescribed burning have several options to potentially

get financial assistance in North Carolina The primary sources for such programs are funded at either the state or national level

The primary state sponsored program is the North Carolina Forest Servicersquos Forest Development Program (FDP) which includes many different forest improvement activities one of which is prescribed burning This program ranks potential recipients on a first come first serve priority and is based on a fiscal year running from July-June It is funded by an assessment on the statersquos wood paper and other manufacturing companies It typically will cover 40 percent of the predetermined average per-acre rate for burning but that rate varies by region A forest management practice plan prepared by a registered forester is required along with the cost share application County forest rangers can provide more information regarding this program

The primary federal program is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which is part of the federal Farm Bill and is administered by the US Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) There are more requirements both paperwork and otherwise to qualify for this program and each application is ranked by priority within a specific region Typically this program aims to provide cost share assistance to more than one activity on a property so prescribed burning alone often will not qualify However burning is often a high priority in the ranking process and for landowners with multiple land management goals this program is a good bet Rather than basing cost share on a percentage this program is calculated on a set per-acre rate that may change from one year to the next While the application process can be cumbersome and is not for everyone the financial assistance is significant especially when the cost of constructing extensive fire breaks is considered

Another option administered by the NRCS is the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) which is aimed at forestland that is certified by such bodies as the American Tree Farm System Forest Stewardship Council Sustainable Forestry Initiative or other similar organizations This program also looks for land that is managed utilizing native tree cover in such a way that it eliminates or reduces soil erosion and wildfire risks

For those considering establishing trees on agricultural or pastureland (known as aforestation) another NRCS administered program is the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) Once trees have been established the contract will often require burning as part of the long-term management strategy The cost share provided for this activity is quite significant but itrsquos important to note this program involves more than just burning Each countyrsquos Farm Service Agency office can provide details on this program

For those interested in wildlife habitat management and possible ecosystem restoration another potential source is the US Fish and Wildlife Servicersquos Partners for Fish amp Wildlife Program Projects approved through this program can receive assistance for permanent fire break construction which can be a large investment for many landowners Depending upon the situation this program may also cost share the actual burning if the area in question has been excluded from fire in the recent past or the landowner desires to switch to a series of growing season burns that benefit wildlife and fire dependent natural communities

There is likely more sources of cost share and technical assistance available to landowners and these will be explored in future newsletters as will expanded details of each of the programs listed above Stay tuned

Burning potential for financial assistance

The NC Prescribed Fire Council Bylaws call for elections of board members at the Annual Meeting The annual meeting usually in August starts the council year A new Vice President is elected each year The Vice President moves into the position of Board President the next year The President becomes an advisor to the board for one year following the term as President Treasurer and Secretary have two-year terms which are offset so that the Fire Council is not working to fill both offices the same year Up to three at-large Board positions also serve staggered two-year terms As a result of the staggered terms the Fire Council typically nominates and elects three or four Board members each year

The Council has a Nominating Committee made up of three to four past Presidents The Board must approve the Committee each year The Nominating Committee carefully develops a slate of prospective officers for the upcoming year Care is taken to balance the leadership so that at any time there are members representing each geographic region of the state (Mountains Piedmont and Coastal Plain) each type of member organization (agencies organizations consultants etc) and specialties involved in prescribed burning (implementation training policy and regulations smoke research etc) An effort is made to ensure that the NC Forest Service is always represented on the Board as well The Committee considers nominee characteristics including knowledge of prescribed fire (implementation policy ecology wildlife or safety) and leadership ability There is also the expectation that the Board member will attend at least three to four meetings in person or by phone throughout the year

Each year provides the challenge of nominating Board members Members of the Nominating Committee exchange ideas about individuals they think would be a good fit for the leadership positions on the Board and consider geographic and agency representation Then there is the task of convincing the already very busy natural resource professionals to run for office knowing they may have to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to the job Developing the slate of candidates usually begins in the winter and runs through late spring

After the Nominating Committee secures a slate of prospective Board members (one nominee for each vacant slot) additional nominations are solicited from the membership This is usually during the summer via email and website posting informing the members about the nominees that the committee has identified and allowing at least two weeks for additional nominations The entire membership of the Council becomes in effect the Nominating Committee Each member is given the chance -- and is highly encouraged -- to volunteer to run or to contact others to seek their nomination for office After the period of nominations closes the nominees provide a brief bio about themselves In advance of the annual meeting all Council members are provided with the bios and an election ballot Ballots are received up to and at the Annual Meeting The nominating committee tallies the results and the new Board members including Vice President are named at the Annual Meeting

Seldom have additional nominations been made by the general membership during the call for nominees There could be numerous explanations or combinations of explanations for the lack of

North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Board of Directors Annual Election

NC Prescribed Fire Council Board of Directors

OFFICERSVice President

Secretary

Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERSMember One

Member Two

Member Three

additional nominations Everyone is busy the members like the slate of Board members nominated they do not wish to serve or they canrsquot find someone willing to serve as a Board member At voting time members have occasionally expressed concern about voting for a single candidate rather than choosing from several The Nominating Committee invests considerable time and effort into securing a slate of prospective officers each year expecting the Committee to double that work in order to provide two choices for each office is perhaps neither realistic nor necessary

Members should feel empowered to nominate others More importantly every member should take a turn serving If you support prescribed burning and the Fire Council decide that throughout your career you will commit to serve as a Council Board member for at least one term If everyone did that there could be six to eight candidates for each office every year Also serving on a committee is a great way to show interest in the work that the Prescribed Fire Council does while helping to move the organization forward and it is not out of the question for committee members to get tapped to serve on the Board

Our membership currently stands at 142 there are 71 lifetime members There have been 17 individuals who have served terms on the Board since 2013 and we welcome and encourage others to step forward It has been helpful to the organization to have so many different individuals -- and their perspectives and capabilities -- contribute to the Prescribed Fire Council and helping to meet its mission ldquoto foster cooperation among all parties in North Carolina with an interest or stake in prescribed firerdquo

Burning on NC National Forests

When the Conservancyrsquos Sandhills Burn Boss Mike Norris first arrived in the Sandhills in 2003 he thought things looked a bit monotonous ldquoMy first impression was that it all looked the samerdquo he explains ldquoTo someone who is new to the longleaf pine ecosystem it does all look the samerdquo But the Ohio native soon learned that first impressions can be wrong ldquoI started spending time in different preserves All of them have a unique history of land management Each site has unique characteristics Each site is telling you ndash as a land manager ndash different things Some of the properties have been owned by industrial timber companies Some havenrsquot been managed at all Some have been managed just for pine straw raking Some have been farms Each of them has a challenge How do you restore the site to healthy longleaf forestrdquo

Norris celebrated his 20th anniversary with The Nature Conservancy this winter Now he can look around and see his own handiwork in the areas where he has led repeated burns and other restoration work He also celebrated another milestone this spring ndash leading the planting of the Conservancyrsquos millionth longleaf pine seedling in the Sandhills

Norris a graduate of Bowling Green State with a degree in environmental studies had spent a lot of time outdoors He grew up hunting fishing and hiking And he worked with the Conservancy before he moved to the Sandhills ndash in the Florida Keys and doing oak and prairie restoration in Indiana The North Carolina job was a logical progression ldquoIt was an opportunity to manage my own territory ndash to be the burn boss on sites that I managedrdquo he says ldquoIt was a chance to work on a larger scale than the remnant prairies in Indianardquo

The Conservancy isnrsquot just concerned with its own land Norris is also working with partners to help them manage their land In many cases that publicly owned land was acquired by the Conservancy and transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or the state park system He and his fire crews help burn state game lands and private property

ldquoSome places are desertsrdquo he says ldquoBut if you give it time you can turn a desert in an oasisrdquo

Caption ndash The Conservancyrsquos 2017 Sandhills Fire Crew in a lighter moment Norris is on the far right Photo copy Jeff MarcusTNC

Nature Conservancyrsquos Mike Norris Celebrates 20th Anniversary

• _GoBack
• _GoBack

The NC Prescribed Fire Council Bylaws call for elections of board members at the Annual Meeting The annual meeting usually in August starts the council year A new Vice President is elected each year The Vice President moves into the position of Board President the next year The President becomes an advisor to the board for one year following the term as President Treasurer and Secretary have two-year terms which are offset so that the Fire Council is not working to fill both offices the same year Up to three at-large Board positions also serve staggered two-year terms As a result of the staggered terms the Fire Council typically nominates and elects three or four Board members each year

The Council has a Nominating Committee made up of three to four past Presidents The Board must approve the Committee each year The Nominating Committee carefully develops a slate of prospective officers for the upcoming year Care is taken to balance the leadership so that at any time there are members representing each geographic region of the state (Mountains Piedmont and Coastal Plain) each type of member organization (agencies organizations consultants etc) and specialties involved in prescribed burning (implementation training policy and regulations smoke research etc) An effort is made to ensure that the NC Forest Service is always represented on the Board as well The Committee considers nominee characteristics including knowledge of prescribed fire (implementation policy ecology wildlife or safety) and leadership ability There is also the expectation that the Board member will attend at least three to four meetings in person or by phone throughout the year

Each year provides the challenge of nominating Board members Members of the Nominating Committee exchange ideas about individuals they think would be a good fit for the leadership positions on the Board and consider geographic and agency representation Then there is the task of convincing the already very busy natural resource professionals to run for office knowing they may have to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to the job Developing the slate of candidates usually begins in the winter and runs through late spring

After the Nominating Committee secures a slate of prospective Board members (one nominee for each vacant slot) additional nominations are solicited from the membership This is usually during the summer via email and website posting informing the members about the nominees that the committee has identified and allowing at least two weeks for additional nominations The entire membership of the Council becomes in effect the Nominating Committee Each member is given the chance -- and is highly encouraged -- to volunteer to run or to contact others to seek their nomination for office After the period of nominations closes the nominees provide a brief bio about themselves In advance of the annual meeting all Council members are provided with the bios and an election ballot Ballots are received up to and at the Annual Meeting The nominating committee tallies the results and the new Board members including Vice President are named at the Annual Meeting

Seldom have additional nominations been made by the general membership during the call for nominees There could be numerous explanations or combinations of explanations for the lack of

North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Board of Directors Annual Election

NC Prescribed Fire Council Board of Directors

OFFICERSVice President

Secretary

Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERSMember One

Member Two

Member Three

additional nominations Everyone is busy the members like the slate of Board members nominated they do not wish to serve or they canrsquot find someone willing to serve as a Board member At voting time members have occasionally expressed concern about voting for a single candidate rather than choosing from several The Nominating Committee invests considerable time and effort into securing a slate of prospective officers each year expecting the Committee to double that work in order to provide two choices for each office is perhaps neither realistic nor necessary

Members should feel empowered to nominate others More importantly every member should take a turn serving If you support prescribed burning and the Fire Council decide that throughout your career you will commit to serve as a Council Board member for at least one term If everyone did that there could be six to eight candidates for each office every year Also serving on a committee is a great way to show interest in the work that the Prescribed Fire Council does while helping to move the organization forward and it is not out of the question for committee members to get tapped to serve on the Board

Our membership currently stands at 142 there are 71 lifetime members There have been 17 individuals who have served terms on the Board since 2013 and we welcome and encourage others to step forward It has been helpful to the organization to have so many different individuals -- and their perspectives and capabilities -- contribute to the Prescribed Fire Council and helping to meet its mission ldquoto foster cooperation among all parties in North Carolina with an interest or stake in prescribed firerdquo

Burning on NC National Forests

When the Conservancyrsquos Sandhills Burn Boss Mike Norris first arrived in the Sandhills in 2003 he thought things looked a bit monotonous ldquoMy first impression was that it all looked the samerdquo he explains ldquoTo someone who is new to the longleaf pine ecosystem it does all look the samerdquo But the Ohio native soon learned that first impressions can be wrong ldquoI started spending time in different preserves All of them have a unique history of land management Each site has unique characteristics Each site is telling you ndash as a land manager ndash different things Some of the properties have been owned by industrial timber companies Some havenrsquot been managed at all Some have been managed just for pine straw raking Some have been farms Each of them has a challenge How do you restore the site to healthy longleaf forestrdquo

Norris celebrated his 20th anniversary with The Nature Conservancy this winter Now he can look around and see his own handiwork in the areas where he has led repeated burns and other restoration work He also celebrated another milestone this spring ndash leading the planting of the Conservancyrsquos millionth longleaf pine seedling in the Sandhills

Norris a graduate of Bowling Green State with a degree in environmental studies had spent a lot of time outdoors He grew up hunting fishing and hiking And he worked with the Conservancy before he moved to the Sandhills ndash in the Florida Keys and doing oak and prairie restoration in Indiana The North Carolina job was a logical progression ldquoIt was an opportunity to manage my own territory ndash to be the burn boss on sites that I managedrdquo he says ldquoIt was a chance to work on a larger scale than the remnant prairies in Indianardquo

The Conservancy isnrsquot just concerned with its own land Norris is also working with partners to help them manage their land In many cases that publicly owned land was acquired by the Conservancy and transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or the state park system He and his fire crews help burn state game lands and private property

ldquoSome places are desertsrdquo he says ldquoBut if you give it time you can turn a desert in an oasisrdquo

Caption ndash The Conservancyrsquos 2017 Sandhills Fire Crew in a lighter moment Norris is on the far right Photo copy Jeff MarcusTNC

Nature Conservancyrsquos Mike Norris Celebrates 20th Anniversary

• _GoBack
• _GoBack

additional nominations Everyone is busy the members like the slate of Board members nominated they do not wish to serve or they canrsquot find someone willing to serve as a Board member At voting time members have occasionally expressed concern about voting for a single candidate rather than choosing from several The Nominating Committee invests considerable time and effort into securing a slate of prospective officers each year expecting the Committee to double that work in order to provide two choices for each office is perhaps neither realistic nor necessary

Members should feel empowered to nominate others More importantly every member should take a turn serving If you support prescribed burning and the Fire Council decide that throughout your career you will commit to serve as a Council Board member for at least one term If everyone did that there could be six to eight candidates for each office every year Also serving on a committee is a great way to show interest in the work that the Prescribed Fire Council does while helping to move the organization forward and it is not out of the question for committee members to get tapped to serve on the Board

Our membership currently stands at 142 there are 71 lifetime members There have been 17 individuals who have served terms on the Board since 2013 and we welcome and encourage others to step forward It has been helpful to the organization to have so many different individuals -- and their perspectives and capabilities -- contribute to the Prescribed Fire Council and helping to meet its mission ldquoto foster cooperation among all parties in North Carolina with an interest or stake in prescribed firerdquo

Burning on NC National Forests

When the Conservancyrsquos Sandhills Burn Boss Mike Norris first arrived in the Sandhills in 2003 he thought things looked a bit monotonous ldquoMy first impression was that it all looked the samerdquo he explains ldquoTo someone who is new to the longleaf pine ecosystem it does all look the samerdquo But the Ohio native soon learned that first impressions can be wrong ldquoI started spending time in different preserves All of them have a unique history of land management Each site has unique characteristics Each site is telling you ndash as a land manager ndash different things Some of the properties have been owned by industrial timber companies Some havenrsquot been managed at all Some have been managed just for pine straw raking Some have been farms Each of them has a challenge How do you restore the site to healthy longleaf forestrdquo

Norris celebrated his 20th anniversary with The Nature Conservancy this winter Now he can look around and see his own handiwork in the areas where he has led repeated burns and other restoration work He also celebrated another milestone this spring ndash leading the planting of the Conservancyrsquos millionth longleaf pine seedling in the Sandhills

Norris a graduate of Bowling Green State with a degree in environmental studies had spent a lot of time outdoors He grew up hunting fishing and hiking And he worked with the Conservancy before he moved to the Sandhills ndash in the Florida Keys and doing oak and prairie restoration in Indiana The North Carolina job was a logical progression ldquoIt was an opportunity to manage my own territory ndash to be the burn boss on sites that I managedrdquo he says ldquoIt was a chance to work on a larger scale than the remnant prairies in Indianardquo

The Conservancy isnrsquot just concerned with its own land Norris is also working with partners to help them manage their land In many cases that publicly owned land was acquired by the Conservancy and transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or the state park system He and his fire crews help burn state game lands and private property

ldquoSome places are desertsrdquo he says ldquoBut if you give it time you can turn a desert in an oasisrdquo

Caption ndash The Conservancyrsquos 2017 Sandhills Fire Crew in a lighter moment Norris is on the far right Photo copy Jeff MarcusTNC

Nature Conservancyrsquos Mike Norris Celebrates 20th Anniversary

• _GoBack
• _GoBack

When the Conservancyrsquos Sandhills Burn Boss Mike Norris first arrived in the Sandhills in 2003 he thought things looked a bit monotonous ldquoMy first impression was that it all looked the samerdquo he explains ldquoTo someone who is new to the longleaf pine ecosystem it does all look the samerdquo But the Ohio native soon learned that first impressions can be wrong ldquoI started spending time in different preserves All of them have a unique history of land management Each site has unique characteristics Each site is telling you ndash as a land manager ndash different things Some of the properties have been owned by industrial timber companies Some havenrsquot been managed at all Some have been managed just for pine straw raking Some have been farms Each of them has a challenge How do you restore the site to healthy longleaf forestrdquo

Norris celebrated his 20th anniversary with The Nature Conservancy this winter Now he can look around and see his own handiwork in the areas where he has led repeated burns and other restoration work He also celebrated another milestone this spring ndash leading the planting of the Conservancyrsquos millionth longleaf pine seedling in the Sandhills

Norris a graduate of Bowling Green State with a degree in environmental studies had spent a lot of time outdoors He grew up hunting fishing and hiking And he worked with the Conservancy before he moved to the Sandhills ndash in the Florida Keys and doing oak and prairie restoration in Indiana The North Carolina job was a logical progression ldquoIt was an opportunity to manage my own territory ndash to be the burn boss on sites that I managedrdquo he says ldquoIt was a chance to work on a larger scale than the remnant prairies in Indianardquo

The Conservancy isnrsquot just concerned with its own land Norris is also working with partners to help them manage their land In many cases that publicly owned land was acquired by the Conservancy and transferred to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or the state park system He and his fire crews help burn state game lands and private property

ldquoSome places are desertsrdquo he says ldquoBut if you give it time you can turn a desert in an oasisrdquo

Caption ndash The Conservancyrsquos 2017 Sandhills Fire Crew in a lighter moment Norris is on the far right Photo copy Jeff MarcusTNC

Nature Conservancyrsquos Mike Norris Celebrates 20th Anniversary

• _GoBack
• _GoBack