Midwest Jack Pine Symposium Connects Researchers, Foresters, and Wildlife Biologists across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Logo developed especially for use at the Midwest Jack Pine Symposium.
The first ever Midwest Jack Pine Symposium was held on August 25 and 26, 2009 in Odanah, Wisconsin and was attended by approximately 180 people from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Canada, representing Federal, State and County agencies, private industry, and non-profit conservation organizations. Christie Deloria and Joel Trick of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Marquette and Green Bay Ecological Services Field Offices led the effort to organize the symposium, with the goal of integrating forestry and wildlife in jack pine management to benefit the numerous declining species found in this ecosystem. The meeting also served as one of the semi-annual meetings of the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters, bringing together a diverse mix of forestry and wildlife related disciplines.
Jack pine forests are primarily found in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and some areas in Canada, and are home to some of the Regions most endangered plants and animals. Fragmentation, conversion to other forest types, and wildfire suppression have all played a role in reducing the extent of jack pine and its associated plant, invertebrate, and wildlife species. The jack pine forest of today also provides an important timber resource. Although foresters and wildlife managers may have the same overall goal of conserving the ecosystem they often have different objectives for managing jack pine. The meeting was organized to bring together foresters and wildlife managers to understand the challenges in management of the jack pine ecosystem, raise awareness of the conservation needs of multiple species which occur there, and to encourage management that is compatible with both wildlife and forestry.
At the symposium scientists and land managers from around the region shared the latest in research, management recommendations, and adaptive strategies for jack pine ecosystem management. The symposium wrapped up with a field trip to the nearby Moquah Barrens on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Bayfield County forest land where participants saw examples of jack pine management. This type of landscape-scale management designed to provide larger patch sizes with similar aged stands in close proximity greatly benefits numerous jack pine barrens and forest species. Reaching out to foresters and other land managers to encourage such management could result in great conservation benefits for multiple species, including the endangered Kirtland’s warbler, and numerous other rare or declining bird species typical of jack pine habitats, such as Connecticut Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Vesper Sparrow. Many of these species are also identified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the respective State Wildlife Action Plans.
The success of the symposium is a reflection of the involvement and dedication of the “planning team” partners which included staff from Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Cooperative Extension, Wisconsin Society of American Foresters, Bayfield County Forestry Department, Hiawatha National Forest, Wisconsin County Forests Association, Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Technological University, Ottawa National Forest, and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
It is hoped that the enthusiasm evident in the planning of and participation at the symposium will lead to new or strengthened partnerships between State, Federal, Tribal and non-governmental organizations and encourage continued communication and collaboration in management of jack pine habitats. Achieving our ultimate vision of an enduring partnership in the region will lead to management practices that accomplish forestry objectives while conserving species that occur in this ecosystem.
Christie Deloria of the Marquette Field Office addresses Symposium participants. August 26, 2009 Photo by Joel Trick, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Panelists respond to questions from Symposium attendees. August 26, 2009. Photo by Joel Trick, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Kirby Dernovsek of the Bayfield County Forestry Department discusses barrens management on the Day 2 field trip of the Midwest Jack Pine Symposium. August 26, 2009. Photo by Joel Trick, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
