Conservation Professional Training Program

Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Conference
2021-10-01 - 2021-10-02
Theme: “Changes in Amphibian & Reptile Populations Throughout the Midwest.”
Midwest PARC (MWPARC) invites you to its virtual annual conference — hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance. The conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Michael J. Lannoo, Indiana University School of Medicine. Throughout the conference there will be sessions for oral presentations, posters, state updates, task teams (e.g., a crawfish frog task team), networking events (e.g., student networking lunch, social hour and trivia), student presentation awards, and an online auction.
Details here.

Wild Rice in Wisconsin's Wetlands
2021-10-01 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Peter David is a wildlife ecologist with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. He originally hailed from a northeastern Wisconsin community best known as Titletown USA. He received his BS and MS degrees in Wildlife Ecology from UW-Madison and then headed north to work for GLIFWC, which was only in its third year of existence at the time. At GLIFWC, he has been fortunate to focus on several resources, especially manoomin or wild rice.
Details here.

Internal Phosphorus Loading: Where It Is and What It Does to Cyanobacteria During Climate Change
2021-10-01 11:00 - 12:00
Gertrud Nürnberg is head of Freshwater Research, a limnological company focusing on the restoration and modeling of eutrophic lakes and reservoirs. She founded this company in 1984, after completing her Ph.D. in biology/limnology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She’s worked with lake associations, governmental agencies, NGOs, engineering companies and the private sector in the US, Canada, and Europe. She has about 60 peer-reviewed papers on comparative research, empirical lake models on phosphorus, iron and anoxia, and on lake management techniques in numerous scientific journals. She has been involved with the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS.org) in various positions where she presented the Internal Phosphorus Workshop since 2003. She is winner of several awards (Secchi, Technical Excellence, Best paper) in recognition of outstanding research and publications in lake restoration.
Details here.

Satellite Algal Bloom Monitoring in Pigeon Lake
2021-10-01 12:00 - 13:00
Evan DeLancey is a Spatial Data Scientist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute working on landcover mapping and monitoring with satellite data in Alberta. He has a M.Sc. in remote sensing from the University of Alberta and specializes in using satellite data and machine learning to solve ecological monitoring problems.
Details here.

Muir Park Invasive Plant Field Day
2021-10-02 09:30 - 13:30
Presentation topics include park history, invasive plant identification and control, and how to report invasive plants using your smartphone. Lunch will be provided, and after lunch we will put our new knowledge to good use removing invasive plants on-site.
Details here.

Vineyard Walk
2021-10-02 13:00 - 15:00
Attendees will take a walk through the station’s vineyards with UW-Madison experts and learn about cold-hardy table grape varieties, the Petite Pearl wine grape variety, disease resistance evaluations, insect monitoring efforts, and general vineyard management.

National Association of State Conservation Agencies and the National Watershed Coalition (NASCA & NWC) Conservation Conference
2021-10-04 - 2021-11-06
The National Association of State Conservation Agencies and the National Watershed Coalition would like to welcome you to our joint conference!
Details here.

Wisconsin Wastewater Operator's Association (WWOA) 55th Annual Conference
2021-10-05 - 2021-10-08
Details here.

Fishing for Food: Quantifying Recreational Fisheries Harvest in Wisconsin Lakes
2021-10-05 13:00 - 14:00
Recreational fisheries have high economic worth, valued at US$190 billion globally. An important, but underappreciated, secondary value of recreational catch is its role as a source of food. This contribution is poorly understood due to difficulty in estimating recreational harvest at spatial scales beyond a single system, as traditionally estimated from individual creel surveys. Here, we address this gap using 28-year creel surveys of ~300 Wisconsin inland lakes. We develop a statistical model of recreational harvest for individual lakes and then scale-up to unsurveyed lakes (3,769 lakes; 73% of statewide lake surface area). We generate a state-wide estimate of recreational lake harvest of ~4,200 metric tons and an estimated annual angler consumption rate of ~1.1 kg, nearly equal to the total estimated United States per capita freshwater fish consumption. An important ecosystem service, recreational harvest makes significant contributions to human diets and plays an often-unheralded role in food security.
Details here.

Phenology and YOU: Bringing Leopold into Our Time
2021-10-05 19:00 - 20:00
Aldo Leopold, best known as the author of A Sand County Almanac, was a keen observer of the natural world. Throughout his life, he kept daily journals recording observations of seasonal events, especially those occurring at his beloved “Shack” on the Leopold farm which was the setting for many essays in A Sand County Almanac. Leopold’s meticulous phenological observations have provided us with an unparalleled record of when plants bloomed, birds migrated, and other natural events occurred. Comparing his observations of hundreds of natural events to recent records helps us understand how climate change is affecting the ecological community. One lesson from Leopold’s journals is clear: For those who love nature and take time to observe it closely, keeping records enhances the enjoyment and value of our time and effort, both now and in the future.
Details here.

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
2021-10-05 19:00 - 20:30
Hazel Thornton, Programme Officer for the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 2021 marks the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – a ten-year effort to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. Join us as we explore the how, what, where, when, and why of this global movement that aims to tackle poverty, combat climate change, and prevent mass extinctions through the restoration of degraded ecosystems.
Details here.

2021 Invasive Species Research Conference – Turning Science into Action
2021-10-06 - 2021-10-07
The 2021 Invasive Species Research Conference will take place virtually in an online event portal. Learn about current and published research from over 40 presenters in a variety of themed sessions. The event will also facilitate connections between invasive species researchers and practitioners in the Pacific Northwest.
Details here.

Climate Policy Forum
2021-10-06
The La Follette Forum: Climate Policy will feature morning and evening keynote addresses and six breakout sessions. The in-person event will feature several networking opportunities for participants, including an evening reception.
“We have an exciting agenda, top-notch panelists, and high expectations for engaging conversations about innovative solutions to one of our most challenging policy issues,” said Professor Greg Nemet, who is leading the conference with Assistant Professor Morgan Edwards.
Participants may watch the presentations in real-time or online after the conference. Breakout sessions will focus on:

Climate Science, Risk and Resilience
Climate Communication and Youth Mobilization
Agriculture and Negative Emissions
Utilities, Regulation, and Electricity
National and International Climate Policy
State and Local Climate Policy

Timber Marking for Wildlife
2021-10-06 09:00 - 15:30
More often than not landowners own their properties for aesthetic and wildlife purposes. In this workshop, we will explore in-field examples of how white-tailed deer and turkey habitat components can be incorporated into forest management plans. Specifically, while touring our recently developed Wildlife Habitat Demonstration Areas we will cover:

habitat considerations of white-tailed deer and wild turkey,
how to incorporate habitat components into MFL plans,
how to use silvicultural techniques (shelterwood, coppice, reserve islands, etc.) to create cover and forage, and
how to incorporate divergent goals (aesthetics, wildlife habitat, age class diversity, etc.) into management.

Details here.

Brine 101
2021-10-06 12:00 - 13:00
Looking for a primer on how to incorporate salt brine into your winter maintenance toolbelt? Matt Wittum, Town of Linn Highway Superintendent, is your man. Matt helped design and lead the smart salting training program in northern Illinois before jumping across the border. He has published several articles on brine use and is eager to assist others in any way he can.
Details here.

Grant-writing 101 and Grant Programs for Farmers
2021-10-06 12:00 - 13:30
Learn about grant programs for farmers and tips for putting together a successful grant project in this 2 day webinar series.
On October 6th Margaret Krome from the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute will cover basic principles of grant-writing, including how to design a sound project, when applying for a grant does or does not make sense, and how to find potential funding sources.
On October 7th a panel of grant program staff from USDA and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, and a farmer who has successfully applied for grants will cover some of the ins and outs of applying for specific grants.
You can register for just one day, but we encourage you to attend both days!
Details here.

Challenges Getting There in Relation to Production and Conservation
2021-10-07 10:30 - 11:30
A part of the Yale Forest Forum: The Future of Wood Building Products in a Changing Climate
Wood is a renewable resource that has wide material applications in many industries. Wood products sourced from sustainably managed forests store carbon and can play an important role in combating climate change. Recent innovations in the use of wood have led to the development of new products that can replace traditional fossil-based carbon-intensive materials, particularly in the construction and energy sectors. Understanding the potential environmental impacts and societal implications of increases in both conventional and emerging wood products across their respective life cycles, as well as their possible reuse in a circular construction economy, is critical in assessing the climate mitigation potential of wood vs. other materials.
What is the future role of forest products in addressing climate, resources, societal, and environmental challenges? What are the environmental, economic, and societal implications for using more forest products? Hear from speakers representing forestry, industrial ecology, architecture, conservation, and academia.
Details here.

PaddockTrac: A Web-Based Mobile Application for Managed Grazing Systems
2021-10-07 12:30 - 14:00
Join us for this webinar in which we will discuss a new wireless sensor, tethered to a smartphone and GIS-based web application, built to improve the efficiency of measuring/monitoring/managing forage systems.
Our presentation explains background information about the ecological and economic reasons to invest in measuring pasture productivity. We describe how PaddockTrac improves the process of measuring/monitoring/managing pasture systems. We highlight the infrastructure built to automate the data collection process and the tools to facilitate easier data interpretation. Our information provides producers the ability to be more proactive rather than reactive in managing forage systems.
Details here.

North East Workshop: Establish a Conservation Plan for your Land
2021-10-07 13:00 - 15:00
What’s the first and the most important step to stewarding your land for generations to come? Developing a conservation plan specific to your property that blends tested strategies with the unique nature of your land and your goals for it. Join us for an intensive session with a team of conservation experts and Conservation Coaches to identify tools, resources and funding opportunities to create your unique land conservation plan. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and network with other women landowners in your area.
Details here.

Road-Stream Crossing Tour
2021-10-13 08:30 - 17:00
Join us for a one-day road-stream crossing tour in Hayward. The tour will stop at several road-stream crossings in the Hayward area and the National Forest to showcase common signs of problems at crossings and on-the-ground designs that were used to address these problems. The tour will provide ample opportunity to discuss design techniques, short-term and long-term cost benefits of installing flood resilient structures, who can help you, and the planning and construction process involved with properly designed structures.
Register using this link by September 24 at https://conta.cc/3Ag3aVL
5 PDHs will be provided.
While we are hopeful we can safely host the event (a) there will likely be safety precaution measures along with a waiver of liability that all attendees must follow, and that information will be shared prior to the event; (b) there may be last minute changes to the structure of the event; and (c) the event could be cancelled if cases continue to rise. Your patience is appreciated while we navigate the difficult nature around hosting an in-person event during COVID.
Details here.

Multi-Discharger Variance in BITS, pt. II: Annual Reports
2021-10-14 09:00 - 10:30
We’ll talk about the reporting phase of your MDV projects: how to document implemented practices and submit a report to the DNR. We’ll cover common questions and advice for submitting the most meaningful data.
Intended audience: Counties participating in the MDV program, counties considering participating in the future, or any conservation staff interested in learning more about BITS
If you cannot attend this webinar, the recording will be posted on the UW-Extension’s DNR webinar YouTube page in the weeks following the session.
Info here.

Wood Products as Sustainable Materials
2021-10-14 10:30 - 11:30
A part of the Yale Forest Forum: The Future of Wood Building Products in a Changing Climate
Wood is a renewable resource that has wide material applications in many industries. Wood products sourced from sustainably managed forests store carbon and can play an important role in combating climate change. Recent innovations in the use of wood have led to the development of new products that can replace traditional fossil-based carbon-intensive materials, particularly in the construction and energy sectors. Understanding the potential environmental impacts and societal implications of increases in both conventional and emerging wood products across their respective life cycles, as well as their possible reuse in a circular construction economy, is critical in assessing the climate mitigation potential of wood vs. other materials.
What is the future role of forest products in addressing climate, resources, societal, and environmental challenges? What are the environmental, economic, and societal implications for using more forest products? Hear from speakers representing forestry, industrial ecology, architecture, conservation, and academia.
Info here.

How Climate Adaptation Helps to Manage Organizational Risk
2021-10-14 12:00 - 13:00
Climate action is a planetary necessity and also a strategic organizational imperative. If progress doesn’t measure up, organizations can face consequences, including investor, employee and community activism — as well as increased operational and financial risk.
Sustainability professionals are developing and operationalizing resilience and adaptation strategies that are scientifically valid, technically feasible and commercially viable. Yet, too often, these plans don’t sufficiently address potential operational risks. At the same time, enterprise risk management (ERM) teams often work from “back-casted” models that can lack a robust, updated view of rapidly evolving climate risks and the potential impact on the organization and its value chain.
Info here.

Climate Ghosts: Migratory Species in the Anthropocene
2021-10-14 16:00 - 17:30
Environmental historian Nancy Langston explores how climate change and the legacies of settler colonialism threaten the future of wildlife in the Anthropocene. She focuses on three “ghost species” in the Great Lakes watershed—woodland caribou, common loons, and lake sturgeon. Ghost species are those that have not gone completely extinct, although they may be extirpated from a particular area.
Info here.

2021-10-14 16:00 - 18:00
What’s the first and the most important step to stewarding your land for generations to come? Developing a conservation plan specific to your property that blends tested strategies with the unique nature of your land and your goals for it. Join us for an intensive session with a team of conservation experts and Conservation Coaches to identify tools, resources and funding opportunities to create your unique land conservation plan. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and network with other women landowners in your area.
Info here.

Optimization in Energy and Environmental Systems
2021-10-14 16:15 - 17:15
Prof. Michael Ferris (Computer Sciences Department, UW–Madison) will discuss: Power grids across the world depend on optimization models that capture interactions between producers, transmission and consumers. The recent explosion of renewable supply such as wind, solar and hydro has led to increased volatility at different time scales. We develop optimization models that consider investment and fuel costs, emissions, electricity prices, and lost-load.
Info here.

Wisconsin Bison Producers Association (WBPA) Fall Conference
2021-10-15 - 2021-10-17
Info here.

Wetland Butterflies in Wisconsin
2021-10-15 10:30 - 11:30
Mike Reese is a self-taught insect enthusiast. Now retired, he has been a cook, botanist, high school math teacher, golf and basketball coach, and high school librarian. While he says he’s no Lepidoptera expert (just a guy who “spent lots of time wandering around, getting my feet wet and looking for whatever happens to be flying by”), others might disagree. He first started learning about butterflies with his son by exploring every nook and cranny of the prairies, swamps, and other nature near their home in Wautoma. He’s actively involved in the North American Butterfly Association, for which he moderates the national butterfly sighting pages, as well as the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association. As a photographer, he’s captured images of butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, tiger beetles, and robber flies.
Info here.

Life Hacks over Lunch: A Meet-up Series for Watershed Professionals
2021-10-15 11:30 - 12:30
This free, virtual meet-up series is a peer-learning opportunity for watershed professionals to share ideas and advice for solving real-life challenges of watershed projects.
If you work with farmers and communities on watershed-scale projects to improve water quality and have ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t want to recreate the wheel,” this meet-up series is for you.
In each meet-up, one person will kick things off by presenting a challenge or issue to the group to “hack.” Conversation, collaboration, and commiseration will ensue.
Join us for these informal gatherings of peers who share a passion for watershed work – and bring your lunch!
Info here.

Black Sustainability Summit
2021-10-16
​We are unapologetically committed to Sustainable, Liberated, Lifelong Learning Communities for people of Afrikan Descent. We envision Afrikan people living in sovereign communities dedicated to returning to the ways of our Ancestors living in harmony with nature, growing our own food and using the natural energies of air, fire, water and the earth to thrive.
We invite you to support our mission to mobilize committed people to exchange knowledge, implement skills and pool our resources to build sustainable communities throughout the Afrikan diaspora and the continent.
Our goal is to create interrelationships between Afrikans working across sustainability field and/or living in sustainable communities with those novices willing and ready to make the necessary sacrifice to create or become a part of a sustainable community.
Let’s collectively bridge the communication gap between those already working in sustainable communities globally.
Info here.
