Skip to main content
2023 SAF National Convention Main banner
Final Program


Icon Legend
Organized Proposal Session

North American boundary forests: diversity, conservation, and fire management

Saturday, October 28, 2023
8:00am - 9:30am PST
Location: A2
CE: 1.5 / ISA CEU 1.5 / ESA CEU .375

Great Plains boundary forests occur in microclimatic islands embedded in prairie. Altered disturbance regimes have potentially reduced boundary forests’ resilience to anthropogenic change. Bringing together forest biologists, spatial ecologists, and land managers, this organized session links ecology and management to assess the status and future of North American boundary forests.

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon completion, participants will be able to explain the importance of North American boundary forests for diversity and ecosystem services and the role of microclimatic variation in maintaining forest function.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to identify the threats to North American boundary forests in terms of climate change and mesophication owing to fire suppression.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to outline how remote sensing can be used to help monitor forest stress.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to describe forest management approaches using prescribed fire to maintain forest health and diversity of North American boundary forests.

Presentations:

  • 9:15am - 9:30am PST
    North American boundary forests: diversity, conservation, and fire management Q&A

    Moderator: Sabrina E. Russo, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Nebraska-Lincoln