The April Driptorch Digest is Now Available

The Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region has been available for free online since late last year. If you've been waiting for printed copies to be available, the wait is over! Spiral bound books with water-resistant covers can be purchased through UGA Extension for $30. The team behind the development of the guidebook recently won a Silver Award in the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals 2024 awards for outstanding educational materials. Don't forget to share your feedback!

The Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC) has released a story map for its Spring 2024 Wildland Fire Risk Assessment. In short, the outlook is a mixed bag across the region and predictions are certainly uncertain, so be prepared for anything. Although most of the region was relieved of drought conditions in the past few months, it is unclear where we are likely to go from here. Significant wildfire potential is expected to be below normal for most of the region in April and then move towards normal in subsequent months, but, the confidence in those predictions is low.
Given the uncertainty in conditions over the next few months, SACC generally advises vigilance and preparedness. It recommends continuous monitoring of weather, fuel moisture levels, and changes in vegetation as we move through Spring. Below are a few key resources for that:

SACC Predictive Services

Oregon Public Broadcasting produced a radio segment on some interesting work coming out of the pacific northwest about smoke-related public messaging. The study looked at X (Twitter) messages from public agencies during the 2022 fire season. There was a lot of important information going out to the public, but much of the messaging occurred only after smoke exposure was high, and the majority of messages did not include information about the level of risk or recommendations for health protective actions. Although this work focused on the PNW, it includes some important lessons to keep in mind in the South as we continue to face challenges around smoke management. Check out the Fire Learning Networks' fire communication webinar series coming up over the next few months!

In the spirit of Women's History Month which just passed in March, here is an article by the USFS that features a couple of female fire practitioners in the Southern region to tell the story of some of the substantial challenges women that face in this industry. It also highlights some of the programs and approaches that have been helping to tackle those challenges. Check out the group, Women in Wildland Fire, for more information and upcoming events about continuing to move towards a more equitable environment in fire.

Although the South is a leader is prescribed fire, we face many challenges like extensive wildland-urban interface, smoke management barriers, and a long history of fire exclusion that can make burning easier said than done. UF/IFAS has a new publication that gives an overview of some of the alternative fuels management activities that can be employed when burning isn't feasible. Check it out to learn if- and how- other methods like mechanical thinning, herbicide, or grazing may help you meet your objectives when fire isn't an option.

USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support

Funding available towards two objectives:

Support the participation of underserved forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience
Support the participation of forest landowners who own less than 2,500 acres of forestland in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience

Award amount: Up to $2,000,000
Application Deadline: Rolling basis, quarterly

Next Deadline: May 31, 2024

Network for Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund

The Catalyst Fund strives to accelerate the pace and practice of landscape conservation and stewardship across the United States by making strategic investments in strengthening the collaborative capacity of place-based, community-grounded Landscape Partnerships.
Applicants must be U.S.-based non-profit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Recognizing that many Landscape Partnerships may not have formal IRS status, an eligible organization may apply on behalf of a Partnership.
Award amount: Up to $25,000
Application Deadline: April 26

Multiple NRCS Funding Programs

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers several funding programs that may be used to support prescribed burning. Many private landowners in the South have already taken advantage of these programs but this year there may be more funding available than in previous years. Programs vary by area, so check out the information pages listed below.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

The Driptorch Digest is distributed by NC State University as a project of the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) Prescribed Fire Working Group.

NC State University promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon one’s race; color; religion (including belief and non-belief); sex, including but not limited to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related medical condition, parenting, and sexual harassment; sexual orientation; actual or perceived gender identity; age; national origin; disability; veteran status; or genetic information.