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Managing Forests as Habitat in a Changing World: A Panel Discussion Webinar Series

Managing Forests as Habitat in a Changing World: A Panel Discussion Webinar Series

These interactive panel discussions connect land managers, researchers, and practitioners spanning diverse geographies and ownerships to explore managing and stewarding forest habitat amid social and ecological changes.

Climatic shifts are impacting forest habitats all across the U.S., challenging how we fulfill our mission of conserving, protecting, and enhancing wildlife habitat. Warming winters, extreme precipitation events, drought and catastrophic wildfire, and other elements affect pollinators, game species, bats, fish, birds, and the people that steward their habitats. Ecosystem management and community-building are part of the solution to addressing these challenges.

This series provides examples of ecological silviculture and restoration techniques that enhance habitat along with the planning, policy, guidance, and partnerships needed to get these actions implemented. Panels will represent a diversity of biologists, foresters, and scientists to help participants discover management tools, respond to climate change, and build on collaborative conservation success (and failure!) stories.

The topic series explores the impacts of a changing world on forest ecosystems and adaptation options for natural resource management. Panelists will discuss projects, barriers and solutions, lessons learned, and next steps.

1.5 continuing education units (CEUs) are available from The Wildlife Society and the Society of American Foresters for each webinar attended.

Webinars will occur on the third Tuesday of the month from 12:00-1:30pm Eastern time. Webinars will be recorded and posted to this webpage when available.

Register for the Series

Credits:

This webinar series was sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) - Forest Ecology Working Group (FEWG), Science Applications and Migratory Birds Programs, and the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) together with the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS), a collaborative, multi-institutional partnership led by the Forest Service.


  • Collaborative Recovery and Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species. Are We Still Being Successful?

    Presented on January 21, 2025.

    This panel discussion features Kirtland’s warbler management, biology, and policy experts sharing the story and lessons learned of collaborative conservation that brought this species back from the brink of extinction and continues to sustain Kirtland’s warbler in its post-delisting era.

    Panelists include Scott Hicks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Phil Huber, USDA Forest Service (retired), Erin Victory, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Steve Roels, American Bird Conservancy.

    View on YouTube

  • Reforestation and Regeneration for Wildlife – Sustaining Forests in Changing Environmental Conditions

    February 18, 2025

    This panel will discuss the current composition and structure of American forests with a focus on regenerating desirable forests that can be resilient to stressors such as insects and disease, as well as broader climate impacts. Panelists will also discuss species stock selection, assisted migration of tree species, mesophication and how these changes in our forests are likely to impact wildlife species and their habitat.

    Panelists include Tony D'Amato, University of Vermont, Olivia LeDee, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, Carrie Pike, USDA Forest Service, Chuck Hunter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Jeff Horan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired), as the moderator.

  • Forest Dwelling Bat Conservation

    March 18, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • The Changing Landscape for Migratory Forest Birds

    April 15, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Resilient Forested Wetlands for Wildlife

    May 20, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Forest Management for Pollinators

    June 17, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Riparian Habitat Preservation and Management

    July 17, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Coexistence of Public Use, Recreation, and Management in Forested Habitats

    August 19, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Finding Refuge in Suburbia: Managing Forests for Habitat in an Urban Environment

    September 16, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Mature and Old Growth Forests

    October 21, 2025

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Mature and Old Growth Forests

    November 18, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.

  • Collaborative Successes and Challenges of Failures - Industries and Habitats - Building Trust

    December 16, 2025.

    Description and panelist details coming soon.