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Training Materials for Foresters

Bird-friendly forestry training materials for foresters pursuing endorsement by 91做厙.

Quality Habitat for Birds and Other Wildlife

91做厙 is excited to assist consulting, agency, industry, and procurement foresters in meeting these land management objectives through our 91做厙 Forester Training and Endorsement Program, active in Connecticut, New York,狽ermont,畝nd烈ennsylvania. 

The content of this training can be applied to private and public land and is compatible with many objectives, including timber production, water quality, recreation, and carbon sequestration. 

The purpose of 91做厙s forester endorsement program is to create a national network of professional foresters working, in partnership with the 91做厙, to promote healthy forest ecosystems that provide high-quality habitat for priority bird species, at scale. 

An 91做厙 endorsement means that participating foresters have completed our bird-friendly forestry training curriculum and demonstrated that they can apply the concepts we have taught them.烙nce endorsed, you will have access to our wide landowner base, and 91做厙 will promote and support your ongoing habitat work.&紳莉莽梯;

OVERVIEW: FROM TRAINING TO ENDORSEMENT 

To receive an 91做厙 endorsement, foresters must complete the following steps: 

  • Completing the training webinar series, or an equivalent in-person 91做厙 training. 
  • Write an example silvicultural prescription that integrates bird habitat management based on a stand scenario we provide. 
  • Provide two examples of new or revised management plans, updates, or amendments眩hat integrate bird habitat management. For large management plans (e.g., public lands,疳ndustrial forests, etc.), foresters can revise two stand prescriptions rather than the entire plan. 

The program begins with a series of training webinars,疳n which foresters will learn about birds in decline, landscape and stand-level planning and management to improve forest habitat diversity, resources available to assist foresters, and details about the 91做厙 Forester Endorsement Program. 

Upon completion of the webinar series, foresters can choose to continue with the next steps in the endorsement process.浮y completing these four sessions, foresters are eligible to receive four SAF CFE and/or four CT CEUs credits before moving on to the endorsement process. 

Training sessions can be accessed at any time and streamed at a time conducive to your schedule.&紳莉莽梯;However, we ask that you watch all four sessions before advancing to the next steps of the endorsement process. 

SAF CFEs have been approved for recorded webinars (one Cat one CFE per webinar). Each webinar is also approved for one CEU for CT Certified Forest Practitioners. To receive CFEs or CT CEUs for viewing a recorded webinar, as well as credit towards endorsement, foresters will need to submit answers to two questions for each webinar. 

How to submit answers:烈lease submit your answers by either uploading them via the links below, or by emailing them to Tim Duclos. Include眩he subject CFE Training Questions along with your SAF or state license identification and we will make sure you receive the necessary credits. We suggest you病amiliarize yourself with these questions before watching so that youre prepared to provide answers. 

Webinar #1: Forester Training and Endorsement Program and Introduction to the Healthy Forest Initiative 

 

  • Name the four bird species that were discussed during the presentation
  • List three threats/stressors to forest habitat quality 

Webinar #2: Forest Bird Habitat Management Planning and Assessments 

 

  • To meet the full breeding cycle (nesting and post-fledging phases) needs of forest birds, what percentages of a mostly forested landscape should be in young and mature forest age classes?
  • Name three stand-level habitat conditions that can be created or improved through forest management. 

Webinar #3: Forest Management for Birds 

  • To enhance vertical structural diversity within a mature forest using small group selection, what is the approximate size range of groups in acres?
  • How many years after a clearcut (two-five plus acres in size) will forest birds start appearing? 

Webinar #4: Resources for Foresters, Engaging Landowners and Current 91做厙 Projects 

  • When writing an integrated forest and bird habitat management plan, habitat should be assessed at two different scales or levels and addressed in prescriptions. What are those two scales or levels?
  • Please list one location where 91做厙 has a forest habitat demonstration site. 

MOVING PAST TRAINING INTO THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS 

Congratulations on completing the four-part training series! 

You are not obligated to continue past the training into the endorsement process to receive CFE credits. 

However, should you choose to,91做厙 will provide access to our wide landowner base while promoting and supporting your ongoing habitat work. We also will remain available to you as a resource when incorporating bird habitat considerations into your forest management planning. 

Given mock landowner objectives, landscape descriptions, and parcel and stand data, respond to questions and develop stand-level prescriptions that incorporate some of the bird-friendly forestry concepts we outlined in the training.Please畚hoose one scenario病rom the options below and .&紳莉莽梯;


 
Choose and address one of the following: 

Develop two病orest management plans (either brand new plans or new activity schedule updates) that incorporate眩hese concepts or take a previously written plan畝nd apply these bird-friendly concepts where suitable within the calendar year.涌or large management plans (e.g., public lands,疳ndustrial forests, etc.), you can choose to revise two stand prescriptions rather than the entire plan.. 

For each management plan, we ask you to also complete a cover sheet. .

For bird-friendly forest management plans or stand prescriptions, remember to include and tie together眩he following important components into a plan: 

  • Describe landowner objectives towards managing their property for birds
    • Ensure you present the how and the why behind your proposed management approach, connecting current condition to future habitat.
  • Provide a landscape-level assessment
    • Quantify and describe forest cover and land use in a 2,500-acre landscape, including, if possible, a map displaying the landscape and areas of suspected or confirmed young forest stands less than 15-20 yrs oldsee the.
    • Address forest age class diversity levels at this landscape level:
      • Conditions of young forests, less than 15-20 years old
      • Conditions of advanced forest cover, less than 20 years old
        • How do these levels compare to targets for the region of (broadly, 5-10 percent young forest, 90 percent or more mature forest)?
  • Provide a stand-level assessment
    • Assess and address stand-level habitat characteristics as they relate to focal groups of bird species. Habitat elements to describe include: vertical and horizontal structural diversity, native tree species diversity, downed woody material, snags and cavity trees, large diameter trees, etc. 

. 

Foresters will be asked to share baseline information annually and to participate in at least two continuing education programs every other year. 

ANNUALLY 
Share information with 91做厙 so we can assess our cumulative impact on forest bird conservation. We will ask for the number of bird-friendly forest management plans youve written, the number of acres included in those management plans, and the number of acres that received management that benefits birds. We will reach out for this information starting in April. We have an easy-to-use online form for information sharing. 

EVERY OTHER YEAR 
Participate in at least two continuing education opportunities provided by 91做厙 or other agencies and organizations. These programs will also be preapproved for SAF credits (and state CEUs where applicable) and participation certificates will be provided.&紳莉莽梯;91做厙 will notify endorsed foresters of the continuing education programs in advance and welcome your suggestions for topics we cover and field sites we visit for in-person programming. 

91做厙's Forester Training and Endorsement Program is funded by a Landscape Scale Restoration grant by the U.S Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, an equal opportunity provider, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation New England Forests and Rivers Fund,浴avis Conservation Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust,烙verhills Foundation and Daybreak FundVermont Community Foundation. 

Thanks to those who help promote this program: 

  • New York and Green Mountain DivisionSociety of American Foresters
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Vermont Woodlands Association
  • Forest Stewards Guild