Description: Tree-rings are nature’s time capsules, offering a glimpse into centuries of history. In this talk, Jean Huffman will share insights gained from over 28 years of collecting ancient pine stumps dating back to the early 1500s across Florida and South Georgia. Through these rings, Jean and her husband Neil Jones have uncovered records of past fire regimes and human activity. Join Jean as she reveals what these old stumps can tell us about the history of fire and people in nearby sites including Tyndall Air Force Base, the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve, and Little St. George Island. This talk offers a unique look at how ancient trees preserve the stories of our natural and human history.
Biography: Jean Huffman is a fire ecologist, dendrochronologist, and land manager with a deep commitment to understanding and protecting Florida’s natural landscapes. As a cofounder and researcher at the Tall Timbers Tree-ring Lab at Tall Timbers Research Station, she is currently focused on tree-ring-based fire history reconstructions. With a PhD in plant ecology from LSU and an MS from UF, Jean’s work primarily explores the fire history and management of longleaf pine savannas in Florida and South Georgia. In addition to her research, she has extensive hands-on experience in fire ecology, land management, and restoration, managing private land in Gadsden County and previously serving as a biologist at Myakka River State Park and manager of the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve.
Seating is limited to a maximum of 45 attendees.
Online registration is open to the first 24 to guarantee a spot. The remaining 21 spots are for those who show up on the day of the event.
Register online at https://stmarksrefuge.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F12732.