« Update: Bringing Fire to the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference »

Join us on Tuesday, October 22 for this special session with land managers and ecologists from across the region. This session is co-organized by the Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium and the Lake States Fire Science Consortium.

Many land managers have experienced that prescribed fire can be an imperfect tool for suppressing invasive species populations, frustrating their attempts to restore an ecological process that is vital to native plant communities, wildlife, and ecosystem function. This session shares case studies from land managers and ecologists who have experienced the limitations and complexities of using prescribed fire to suppress invasive plant species. 

Three case studies highlight innovations including: 1) pre-burn management using other tools to foster more desirable fuel loads; 2) planning and implementing prescribed fires of the appropriate timing, intensity/severity, and/or frequency to suppress invasive species and foster native plants and wildlife; and 3) using adaptive management and monitoring to better understand the effects of grassland management tools. We'll conclude with a 20 minute panel discussion and field questions from the audience.

Overview: Prescribed Fire and Invasive Plants – Effects and Use of an Imperfect Tool

Jack McGowan-Stinski, Coordinator, Lake States Fire Science Network

Case Study #1: Mechanical Shrub/Tree Removal Preceding Re-Introduction of Fire to Grasslands and Savannas

Joel Kemm, Fire Management Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Croix Wetland Management District

Case Study #2: Annual Prescribed Burning to Facilitate Recovery of a Federally Threatened Orchid

Jim Lutes, Wildlife Biologist, Leopold Wetland Management District

Case Study #3: Adaptive Approaches to Managing Prairies on Conservation Lands in the Prairie Pothole Region

 Sara Vacek and Cami Dixon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Panel Discussion:  

 Joel Kemm, Jim Lutes, Craig Maier, Jack McGowan-Stinski, and Sara Vacek

More information about the Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference is available at www.umisc2014.org.