Webinar: Forest Ecology, Collaborative Forest Management, Defensible Space

Boulder County Nature Association and Left Hand Watershed Center have joined forces to bring you classes on forest ecology and fire mitigation. Each class will focus on a different topic, so participants can attend one or both. In this evening talk on Zoom, we will provide an overview of some general forest ecology principles, the legacy of fire suppression and changes in the forest that have occurred, and the desired future conditions ecologists see for our forests. We will also discuss the current work that is occurring in the St. Vrain Watershed across many partners and communities to respond to forest management needs across boundaries. Lastly, Wildfire Partners, a resource for homeowners in Boulder County, will provide an overview of defensible space principles, and resources available to home/landowners.

Wildfire Partners is a wildfire mitigation program to help mountain and foothills homeowners in Boulder County, Colorado prepare for wildfire. Wildfire Partners, part of Boulder County’s Community Planning & Permit Department, is a nationally recognized model for wildfire mitigation that is incorporated into Boulder County’s building code.

Chiara Forrester is the Forest Program Manager for the Left Hand Watershed Center, a non-profit based in Boulder County that works to protect and restore watersheds using a collaborative and science-based approach. The Watershed Center is the coordinating entity of the St. Vrain Forest Health Partnership, a collaborative of 100+ agencies, organizations, stakeholders, and communities whose vision is to restore the resiliency of forests and communities in the St. Vrain Watershed. Chiara is an ecologist, and her PhD at CU-Boulder focused on the impacts of climate change on alpine plants and the use of science in land-management decisions.

Scott Heffernan is an Associate Conservation Forester with the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts. He is an ecologist and geographic scientist who helps increase the resilience of our forests across both public and private lands through developing forest management plans. He has a Master’s degree in forest remote sensing and geographic science, and has years of experience working across diverse ecosystems, from stingray population genetics and Northern Spotted Owl surveying to invasive plant management.

To register visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-ecology-collaborative-forest-management-defensible-space-webinar-tickets-324948649157