Birdwatching Hike
2024-09-24 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Merchant’s Millpond State Park, 176 Millpond Road, Gatesville, NC, 27938, United States
This is a great opportunity for anyone who is looking to get into birding, improve upon existing bird knowledge or anyone who just enjoys being outdoors. We will scout out some of the bird species we have around the picnic area and see how many different species we can find. Merchants Millpond is known for its great bird diversity, which is partly due to its varying ecosystem types. This event is open to the public and for all ages. Please dress for the weather. Binoculars are available on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions, please call the visitor center at 252-357-1191.

Coastal Forests as Sentinels of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
2024-09-28 08:00 - 17:00 | NC
Along the southeastern U.S. coast, it is becoming more and more common to see large patches of dead or dying trees where healthy forests used to be. These areas are called ghost forests, and they have been recorded since at least the 1920’s. Ghost forests can be found on the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Texas and as climate change persists, ghost forests are expected to become a more prevalent sight. But what causes this mass death of once healthy forests? What are the ecosystem impacts and can anything be done to save the trees? In this webinar, Dr. Marcelo Ardón of N.C. State University will answer all these questions and more as he explains ghost forests and what causes them.

Carnivorous Plant Hike
2024-10-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Carolina Beach State Park, 1010 State Park Road, Carolina Beach, NC, 28428, United States
Join a park ranger at the Flytrap Trail for a hike along the trails. We will learn about different habitats that exist within Carolina Beach State Park and how each habitat affects the plants and animals that call the park home. Meet at the Flytrap Trail parking area at the end of Nature Trail Lane. This is an outside program. The trail is wheelchair accessible.

Firescaping: Managing Your Landscape to Reduce Vulnerability to Wildfire
2024-10-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 U.S. 64 Business, Pittsboro, NC, 27312, United States
Join the N.C. State Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Chatham County for a workshop on how to reduce the risk of fires in your land

Landowner Resource Workshop
2024-10-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Columbus County Government Complex, 45 Government Complex Rd, Suite A, Whiteville, NC, United States
Topics: Prescribed Burn Associations, Taxes, NRCS Farm Bill (EQIP & CSP), Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Cooperative Extension, Turkey Ecology, CWD update and the Forest Development Program.
Event is free, and supper is provided. Space is limited.
Register by September 27th by calling or emailing Benjy.Strope@ncwildlife.org 910-874-5562.

Sandhills Game Lands Field Tour & Longleaf Understory Workshop
2024-10-04 10:00 - 14:30 | NC
No matter your acreage or experience level, managing habitat for wildlife can be challenging, especially in the Sandhills.
Join us for this FREE workshop sponsored by the N.C. Tree Farm Program and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to learn about the benefits of prescribed fire, native plants, beneficial insects and herpetofauna in your landscape. You will have the opportunity to speak with experts to learn about habitat management to improve your property and make it inviting for wildlife.
Meet at the Sandhills Depot, 2995 U.S. Highway 1, Hoffman.
Lunch will be provided. Space is limited.
REGISTER BY OCT. 2.
For more information, email gabriela.garrison@ncwildlife.org

Fire in the Pines Festival
2024-10-05 10:00 - 15:00 | Halyburton Park, 4099 S 17th St., Wilmington, 28412, United States
Kids activities including crafts, games and educational opportunities
Fire equipment, including an antique fire engine
Hay-rides throughout the park
Fire, nature and other conservation-related tables and displays
Live music by Folkstone Stringband
Food trucks
Entertainment including jugglers and raptor shows
And for the finale, a live fire demonstration!

International Oak Symposium
2024-10-07 - 2024-10-10 | The Hilton, Knoxville, Tennessee, 501 W Church Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37902, United States
The University of Tennessee’s School of Natural Resources is proud to host an International Oak Symposium in 2024 to provide a platform to exchange information and build collaborations around the best available science and technology on oak ecology and management for a global audience. Field trip(s) will be offered that showcase multi-disciplinary research of the USDA Forest Service and other partners.
The overall goal of this symposium is to cultivate and promote synergy among natural resource managers and researchers working towards practical applications to sustain or restore oak ecosystems around the world. The symposium will address the most current issues and complexities related to science-based management of oak species and forests at global, regional, and local scales. The four-day program seeks to engage a diverse audience of managers and scientists in a forum that fosters innovation in silviculture and management for sustainability of oak forests.
Our specific objectives are to provide platforms, products, and opportunities for:

technology transfer and dialogue between researchers and managers
scientific exchanges among researchers
fostering collaborations between managers and researchers
production of peer-reviewed research papers
Contribute towards professional development of students and early-career scientists

Current Research in Hurricane Disturbed Forests
2024-10-07 12:00 - 13:30 | NC
Join experts from silviculture, economics, and geospatial disciplines as they present results from recent research exploring the dynamics of hurricane-impacted forests. These include how stand and tree characteristics influence damage severity after a catastrophic hurricane disturbance, how those characteristics interact with silvicultural regimes, as well as new tools that will aid decision-makers with damage assessment and salvage efforts.

This webinar is the first of two webinars. The second webinar, Future Research Directions and Needs for Hurricane Disturbed Forests, will discuss challenges and opportunities present in this important area of study and answer questions from the audience. The second webinar is scheduled for October 21, 2024, at noon Eastern

Webinar: Managing the Right Species on the Right Site: Part 1 - Site Selection
2024-10-10 12:00 - 13:00 | NC
This webinar will review the influence of site characteristics on species composition. Understanding which trees grow best in each area on the property is the first step in deciding how to harvest and regenerate a forest. This webinar will highlight examples from North Carolina from the coastal plain to the mountains, focused on commonly managed commercial species. The presenter will identify sites that work across the state for managing different species for forestry use.
Since North Carolina markets have changed and landowners’ interests and objectives change over time, a careful look into sites that work for particular timber species is needed. This webinar is for landowners interested in either doing site restoration or reforestation work and for professionals that work with forest systems. This webinar is Part 1 of a 2-part series. Part 2 of the series is October 17, 2024, at noon Eastern.

Continuing Education Credit:
Society of American Foresters – Certified Forester Education (SAF-CFE) – 1-hour Category 1 Credit [Applied For]
The Wildlife Society – Certified Wildlife Biologist®/Professional Development Certificate Program – 1 hour TWS Category 1 Credit [credits applied for]
Register HERE

NC Bradford Pear Bounty Tree Exchange Event: Onslow County
2024-10-12 09:00 - 11:00 | NC
This program encourages homeowners to remove their landscape Bradford pear or other planted cultivars of Pyrus calleryana (e.g., Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Aristocrat) and replace them with free, native trees. Homeowners who want to participate in this event must pre-register and bring proof of tree removal to the event. Replacement trees are in 3-gallon containers, and there are many native species to choose from. Up to five pear trees can be removed for up to five free replacements. First come first serve for tree species selection.
This exchange is free and open to the public, pre-registration is required to ensure tree pick-up runs smoothly.
Learn more and register HERE.

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Treatment Demonstration
2024-10-12 13:00 - 16:00 | N.C. Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative is hosting a demonstration of chemical treatment methods to control the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. Hemlock trees in western North Carolina are an important and irreplaceable component of our forests. These trees have been suffering for over two decades from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect that can kill the tree in as little as four years.
This hands-off demonstration will be useful for landowners, natural resource managers and tree care professionals. We will use the trees on-site to practice assessing hemlock health to determine the best treatment options, and staff will demonstrate the HWA chemical treatment methods used on national forest and state lands. These methods are available to all private landowners in North Carolina without obtaining a license or certification. We will also discuss applicator and environmental safety, special considerations and guidance for hiring a tree care professional.
The program is free to the North Carolina Arboretum members, but nonmembers will need to pay a $20 entrance fee. Registration is required.

Webinar: White-Nose Syndrome and Bats
2024-10-16 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease that affects hibernating bats, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). This fungus thrives in cold, dark, and damp environments, attacking the bare skin of bats during their hibernation. As it grows, it disrupts their hibernation patterns, causing them to burn through the fat reserves needed to survive the winter. The result is often fatal, with millions of bats in North America already lost to this disease. WNS is especially concerning because bats play a critical role in ecosystems, particularly in controlling insect populations. Additionally, people can unknowingly spread the Pd fungus when they move from one location to another without properly cleaning their gear. This makes it crucial to clean and disinfect shoes, clothing, and equipment between trips to help prevent the spread of WNS. In this webinar, we’ll explore the impact of White-Nose Syndrome and learn more about the efforts of the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team to combat this deadly disease.

Brake for Wildlife! Transportation Planning for Better Solutions
2024-10-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Chatham County Library, 197 NC Hwy 87 N, Pittsboro, NC, United States
Wildlife needs to move across the landscape to find habitats for breeding, foraging, and raising young. Roads are barriers to wildlife movement. Come to the October CCP meeting to learn what state organizations are doing to facilitate safe passage of wildlife under roads in Chatham County and planning efforts to identify high priority wildlife crossing needs in the county.

2024 Heirs Property, Succession Planning and Family Mediation
2024-10-17 09:00 - 16:30 | Western Carolina University, 104 Centennial Dr., Cullowhee, NC, 28723, United States
Western Carolina University, N.C. A&T and N.C. State Cooperative Extension are working together to educate the public about heirs property. Join us for a hands-on training session that will provide valuable materials and guidance to avoid involuntary property loss, and protect and preserve family land for generations to come.

Managing the Right Species on the Right Site: Part 2 - Species Selection
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:00 | NC
To meet landowners’ interests and objectives, new strategies are needed to either naturally or artificially regenerate commercially valuable timber. Picking the right management strategy before a harvest can save you money and provide an optimal future income for you and your heirs. This webinar will highlight examples in North Carolina from the coastal plain to the mountains, focused on commonly managed commercial species. The presenter will summarize the primary ways that different timber types in North Carolina are regenerated following a harvest. This webinar is part 2 of a 2-part series.
Pre-registration is required.

Tour a Tree Farm
2024-10-19 11:00 - 16:00 | NC
The trails at Karen and Allen Plaster’s Tree Farm in Trenton will be open to the public on Oct. 19 as part of a fundraiser for the Pollocksville Filling Station, a non-profit organization that provides nutritional, educational and spiritual support to residents of Jones County. The Down East Prescribed Burn Association and others will be on site to talk about prescribed burning, wildflowers and pollinators.

Future Directions for Hurricane Disturbed Forests Corner Down Image
2024-10-21 12:00 - 13:30 | NC
Join Experts from silviculture, forest economics, forest management and operations, and geospatial disciples in a panel discussion on the potential opportunities and challenges for research and outreach related to hurricane disturbed forest. The panel will outline the needs and collaborations necessary for advancing current research and explore unknown and underappreciated issues related to the topic. The audience is also invited to ask questions to our panel and provide insight into the conversation.
This webinar is the second of two webinars. The first webinar, Current Research in Hurricane Disturbed Forests, shared results from recent research exploring dynamics of hurricane impacted forests. These include how stand and tree characteristics influence damage severity after a catastrophic hurricane disturbance, how those characteristics interact with silvicultural regimes, as well as new tools that aid decision-makers with damage assessment and salvage efforts.

2024 Forest Landowner Conference
2024-10-23 08:30 - 2024-10-24 15:30 | Rocky Mount Event Center, 285 NE Main Street, Rocky Mount, NC, United States
Theme: “The Role and Value of Private Consulting Foresters and Forest Industry Foresters”
The purpose of Roanoke Cooperative’s Sustainable Forestry & Land Retention Project Landowner Conference is to inform and educate landowners on strategies for estate planning and conflict resolution; on forest carbon programs; and on programs and technical assistance available through state forestry agencies, U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies, local timber industry and conservation organizations. This year’s conference will include a closer look at the role of private consulting foresters and forest industry foresters.

Timber Tax: Capturing Loss From Hurricane Helene and Other Landowner Issues and Considerations
2024-10-30 13:00 - 14:00 | NC
This webinar will provide an update of Hurricane Helene timber damage, strategies for capturing losses for tax purposes and an overview on various timber tax topics. Topics include timber basis, IRS distinctions between a business, investment or a hobby, what is a back cruise and when is it helpful in determining taxes, when to use form T and a host of other helpful topics for a landowner considering tax implications and best strategies relating to timber.

ForestHer NC: Piedmont Wildlife Workshop
2024-11-02 09:30 - 12:30 | Culp Lumber Company Conference Center, 44012 US-52, New London, NC, 28127, United States
Hear presentations about:

How to Improve Wildlife Habitat on Your Land
How to Engage With Citizen Science Projects
What Equipment is Used in Managing Forests for Wildlife

Meet other woodland owners from your area and learn what they’re doing for wildlife!

Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future
2024-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | NC
The world today is undergoing the most rapid environmental transformation in human history—from climate change to deforestation. Scientists, ethnobotanists, indigenous peoples, and collectives of all kinds are closely studying trees and their biology to understand how and why trees function individually and collectively in the ways they do. For his new book, Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future, historian Daniel Lewis went on a global journey to learn about twelve iconic trees in their habitats. In this talk, Lewis will reveal what he learned of nature and survival through them, including two trees found in North Carolina—the longleaf pine and bald cypress—and will share insights into the ways in which humans and trees are interconnected. Daniel Lewis is the Dibner Senior Curator for the History of Science and Technology at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in Southern California and a writer, college professor and environmental historian. His book “Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future” was published by Simon and Schuster in March 2024.

Forest Farming: Crop Selection - Economics and Marketing (Webinar)
2024-11-14 18:30 - 20:00 | NC
Penn State experts will explore forest farming, valuable non-timber forest products, market trends and the latest research benefiting landowners, foragers and related professionals. The agroforestry practice of forest farming is the production of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in forests to produce edible and medicinal crops for personal use and/or income. In this session, you will learn about selecting NTFP crops and current markets.

Webinar: Stop the Spread: Essential Campaigns for Preventing Invasive Species
2024-11-20 15:30 - 17:00 | NC
Join us for an informative webinar featuring a panel of experts presenting key invasive species education campaigns. This webinar will cover four critical initiatives designed to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species across various ecosystems.

Don’t Let It Loose: Learn about responsible pet ownership and why it’s important to prevent the release of pets into the wild.
Don’t Move Firewood: Discover the importance of using local firewood to avoid spreading harmful forest pests.
Clean, Drain, Dry: Get practical tips on how to clean your watercraft, gear and equipment to stop aquatic invasive species from hitching a ride.
Squeal on Pigs: Understand the role of reporting and managing feral swine populations to protect natural habitats.

The webinar will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for all taxa, helping you to play a part in safeguarding our natural spaces.

Webinar: An Overview of Bottomland Hardwood Forests
2024-11-21 12:00 - 13:00 | NC
This presentation will define bottomland forests, discuss their function and silvicultural challenges, address which species to favor and outline some forest management practices that landowners can implement.

Winter Tree ID
2025-01-22 08:00 - 17:00 | NC
Winter is a great time to learn and strengthen your plant identification skills. Join Ranger Hill for a guided hike at White Pines Picnic Area to learn some easy tips/tricks for being a winter ID expert.

Winter Birding Hike
2025-01-25 09:00 - 11:00 | Hanging Rock State Park, 1790 Hanging Rock Park Road, Danbury, NC, 27016, United States
Join a park ranger on a hike to learn how to identify winter birds. You will learn how to identify birds visually and by their calls. We will hike 1.8 miles along the Wolf Rock Trail. Please wear proper hiking attire and bring water. There will be a limited number of binoculars to borrow so if you have your own please bring them with you. To sign up for the program please email Jonathan.buie@ncparks.gov.

Winter Bird Hike - Cypress Point
2025-01-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Merchant’s Millpond State Park, 176 Millpond Road, Gatesville, NC, 27938, United States
Join us at the boat ramp parking lot for a ranger guided bird hike down Cypress Point Trail, where we will see how many different species of birds we can observe.
This event is open to the public and will be suitable for all levels of birding knowledge. We will have some tips and tricks for beginners, but experts are certainly welcome as well. Guests are encouraged to bring their own binoculars, but we have a limited amount available to borrow upon request.
Please dress for the weather!

Weekend Woodpecker Hike
2025-01-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Ft. Bragg Road, Southern Pines, NC, 28387, United States
Join a ranger on a 1.5 mile hike to look for the wonderful woodpeckers of Weymouth Woods!
Meet at the visitor center.

Who Will Fill My Shoes: Succession Planning for Landowners and Business Webinar
2025-01-29 14:00 - 15:00 | virtual via Zoom
5-part webinar series on succession planning. Module 1 begins on January 22nd with recurring webinars each Wednesday following until February 19th. Topics include communication and conflict in succession, key players in succession, road mapping and goals in succession, and planning and coordination in succession.
Jan 22, 2025 – 01:00 PM Central Time – Module 1
Jan 29, 2025 – 01:00 PM Central Time – Module 3*
Feb 5, 2025 – 01:00 PM Central Time – Module 2 *
Feb 12, 2025 – 01:00 PM Central Time – Module 4
Feb 19, 2025 – 01:00 PM Central Time – Module 5
*Please note modules 2 & 3 presentation dates have been interchanged and will be presented on the dates indicated above.
Hosts include Purdue University, NC State University, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, and Southern Rural Development Center.
