Recent and Future Trends in Forest and Rangeland Disturbances from the RPA Assessment

Includes a Live Web Event on 01/16/2025 at 2:00 PM (EST)

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Webinar information

As climate, other biophysical factors, and management regimes change, disturbance regimes are being altered, with the possibility of some disturbance types becoming more frequent, severe, or longer in duration. These alterations have the potential to drive changes in the distribution, structure, species composition, or function of forest and rangeland ecosystems, putting those ecosystems at risk and presenting challenges for management. Identifying trends in disturbances on forests and rangelands enables examination of effects on forest and rangeland resources and can inform regional and national management and policy. This webinar will review results from the Disturbance Chapter of the 2020 RPA Assessment, summarizing recent changes in forest and rangeland exposure to fire and drought, and presenting future projections to 2070 based on RPA scenarios. To highlight the value of the RPA approaches, we will then hear about the ways in which RPA information on disturbance, in particular projected trends in drought, were used to inform the Forest Plan Revision process for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in western North Carolina.

Is this technical session for you?

This webinar is intended for land managers, scientists, and policy makers—anyone interested in understanding how the exposure of forests and rangelands to disturbances in the U.S. has been changing over time and how it is likely to continue to change in the future. Changes in disturbances can have substantial effects on resources, so anyone with responsibility for evaluating or managing resources would benefit by learning more about ongoing trends and potential futures.

Registration

1. Click REGISTER to the right of the technical session recording title. Be sure to log in with your SAF account username and password.

2. After checking out, this webinar will be available on your MY DASHBOARD page here on ForestEd.

For group registrations or registering someone other than yourself please contact membership@safnet.org or 202-938-3910.

Pricing

This webinar is FREE ($0) for all viewers.

Members and non-members still need to register to gain access to this learning product. To register for a free SAF account, click the 'Log In' button in the top right corner, then click 'Create a new account'.

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Webinar Access 

The webinar is scheduled for live viewing on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET. The Zoom Webinar platform will be used for the presentation. Be sure to connect to the webinar using a device approved to access Zoom.

Access this learning product within the Contents tab (to the right of the Overview information).

Webinar duration

This webinar is 1 hour.

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion of viewing this recording, you will be able to:

1. Explain how the exposure of forests and rangelands to disturbances including fire and drought has changed over recent decades.

2. Describe how the exposure of forests and rangelands to fire and drought is projected to continue to change in the future.

3. Identify ways in which projections of disturbance exposure can be used in policy or management.

Rubric

Successful completion of this learning product is measured by viewing the entire webinar and completing the evaluation.

Evaluation

Participant feedback is appreciated to help us continually improve ForestEd offerings for future programming. Evaluations must be completed to receive CFEs.

CFEs

Upon successful completion of this learning product, you will earn 1.0 CFEs in Category 1. CFEs will automatically be added to your CFE record located on www.eforester.org by the end of the day (11:59 pm ET).

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the webinar and filling out its evaluation, participants may download and print a certificate verifying completion of this learning product and earning SAF CFEs.

Return to technical session

Once you are registered for the recording, access this technical session recording within your MY DASHBOARD. You can return to download your certificate by accessing the technical session information within the general listing of YOUR DASHBOARD through February 11, 2026. Registrants will be notified if that timeline is extended.

Need Help?

For ForestEd questions, visit FAQs, email ForestEdSupport@safnet.org, or check out the registration quick tips in the Handouts tab. For technical assistance and questions about this technical session recording, email ForestEdSupport@safnet.org.

Refund

This is a non-refundable item. Please view FAQs for additional information.

Jen Costanza

Research Ecologist

USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station

Dr. Jen Costanza is a Research Ecologist in the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Integrated Forest Science in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Her research focuses on understanding how forests and landscapes have changed in the past, and the ways in which they may change in the future. Her recent and ongoing work includes quantifying the effects of climate and land-use change on forest disturbances and modeling the impacts of changing disturbances and management on forest ecosystems.

Gary Kauffman

Botanist/Ecologist

USDA Forest Service Region 8, National Forests in Northern Carolina

Gary Kauffman has been the botanist/ecologist program manager for the National Forests in NC, which covers 1.2 million acres across 4 forests, the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in the mountains, the Uwharrie NF in the Piedmont, and the Croatan NF in the Coastal Plain. Duties include planning revision at the forest level, restoration of rare plant populations and rare plant communities, overseeing the invasive plant program across the 4 forests, and NEPA compliance for forest projects. Gary has been with the USFS since 1992. He has a master’s degree in botany/mycology.

Claire O'Dea (Moderator)

Resources Planning Act Assessment National Program Leader

USDA Forest Service Research & Development

Kathy Broughton (Moderator)

Assessment Program Manager

USDA Forest Service Research & Development

Tony Mazza (Moderator)

Interim Policy & Public Affairs Director

Society of American Foresters

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Recent and Future Trends in Forest and Rangeland Disturbances from the RPA Assessment
01/16/2025 at 2:00 PM (EST)  |  60 minutes
01/16/2025 at 2:00 PM (EST)  |  60 minutes
Evaluation
7 Questions
7 Questions Please complete the evaluation to help inform the continuous improvement of future programming.
CFE Credit: Webinar: Recent and Future Trends in Forest and Rangeland Disturbances from the RPA Assessment
1.00 CAT1 credit  |  Certificate available
1.00 CAT1 credit  |  Certificate available Download, save and print for your records. Your CFEs will be posted to your SAF CFE record today.