Florida Land Steward

Florida Land Steward Calendar and News

To sign up for weekly email updates, which include the latest calendar of events, news and a link to the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter, send an email to cdemers@ufl.edu.

If you know of an event or news brief that should be included on this page or the news blog please send an email with the news information or event name, date, location, and contact information to cdemers@ufl.edu.

Ongoing Initiatives and Programs

ONLINE COURSES

ENROLL IN THE ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY

Are you new to forestry and land management? Need a good primer on forest management concepts and next steps? Need a course in a self-paced format that you can take on your own time? This course is for you! Forest landowners, and others in need of forest management information, are encouraged to enroll in this self-paced, online course to connect with forest management experts at the University of Florida and receive quality core educational content on forestry and multiple-use stewardship concepts.

The 7 course modules cover a variety of topics on understanding your forest resources, developing your management plan, timber management, marketing forest products, other forest enterprises such as pine straw and hunting leases, wildlife management, and planning for the future. Each module includes recorded video from the field or virtual classroom, links to references, and an assessment where you can apply what you’ve learned to your land or situation and begin or continue planning and making contacts. The cost of the course is $150. Those completing the course will earn a University of Florida Certificate of Completion.

Enroll in the Forest Landowner Academy today:
https://ifas-sfrc-for.catalog.instructure.com/courses/for-fla

Questions about the course can be directed to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ONLINE WILD TURKEY MANAGER COURSE NOW AVAILABLE

The University of Florida Game Lab, along with many collaborators, have launched an online turkey management course titled Wild Turkey Manager: Advanced Habitat. Course modules include field management, forest management, grassland management, forest stand improvement, food plots, cost-share programs, population monitoring, population dynamics, disease management, predator management, and case studies of management success. Watch the Wild Turkey Manager online course trailer here. Enroll at https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManager.

For more information about this course, contact Dr. Marcus Lashley, marcus.lashley@ufl.edu; Dr. Carolina Baruzzi, carolina.baruzzi@ufl.edu; or Charlotte Nowak c.nowak@ufl.edu.

ONLINE PRESCRIBED FIRE TRAINING COURSE AVAILABLE ON UF/IFAS EXTENSION CANVAS CATALOG

This course is designed to provide individuals with knowledge and resources to better accomplish their land management goals and to cultivate fire-educated communities. Topics include: Basic Fire Knowledge, How to Implement Prescribed Fire, Air Quality & Smoke, Fire Liability & Risk Reduction, Wildlife Management, Forest Management, and more. This course is free and for educational purposes only. It is not a professional certification course. See Prescribed Fire Training | CESRxFire for more details and to enroll.

PODCASTS

CHECK OUT THE PROFOREST “PODFOREST” PODCAST

Immerse yourself in the world of forestry through extension as ProForest coordinator Dr. Tyler Carney hosts guests to talk about all things forestry. Listeners can join each episode to listen to a new guest and learn about different forestry topics. Curated for private forest landowners but interesting to all, this podcast was created as an Extension product of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

Learn more about the PodForest podcast and listen to available episodes..

FIRE UNIVERSITY PODCASTS

The UF Disturbance Ecology and Ecological Restoration (DEER) Lab has launched a podcast named Fire University in a podcast network called Natural Resources University. The network features four science-based podcasts with leading scientists in each topic area. Topics include Deer University focused on white-tailed deer biology and management, Habitat University focused on the science of wildlife habitat management, Pond University focused on delivering the latest science about managing fishing ponds and aquatic ecosystems, and Fire University which delivers the latest research and science on fire ecology and related wildlife and forest management.

The Natural Resources University (NRU) podcasts are available at: https://naturalresourcesuniversity.libsyn.com/

The Fire University Podcasts are available at: https://fireuniversity.libsyn.com/

WILD TURKEY SCIENCE PODCAST

Wild Turkey Science is a podcast hosted by Dr. Marcus Lashley at the University of Florida and Dr. Will Gulsby at Auburn University. The podcast is science-based and features in-depth discussion about wild turkey research and how it relates to managing your wild turkey population. Check out the Wild Turkey Science podcast here.

These podcasts are all available on all the major podcast platforms and people can follow them @UFDEERLab and @NRUniversity where additional content related to natural resource management is posted. For more information contact Dr. Marcus Lashley, (352) 846-0870, marcus.lashley@ufl.edu

ASSISTANCE, NETWORKS. LANDOWNER ASSOCIATIONS

FLORIDA WOMEN LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION (FWLA)

Our goal is to provide opportunities for collaboration and education for all generations of women landowners in Florida. We share land stewardship resources through in-person events and virtual networking related to land ownership including farms, ranches, forests, recreation, and wildlife. Whether you have 1 acre or 1,000 – we are here for you. Keep up with FWLA news and activities on their web site.!

PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE

These organizations are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation.

Tall Timbers Research Station is funded by a Longleaf Legacy Landscape project to provide fire consultation and assistance with planning, and implementation to private landowners in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Lake City and in west Georgia as far north as the Chattahoochee Fall Line (Columbus, GA). For more information contact Jeremy Martin at (850) 333-4776, or JMartin@talltimbers.org. Jeremy is also the coordinator for the Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association: Private Lands Prescribed Fire Project - Tall Timbers

Alachua Conservation Trust has a prescribed fire specialist available to assist private landowners with burn planning in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. John’s, Suwannee, Union, and portions of Citrus, Lake, Sumter, and Volusia Counties. Contact Barry Coulliette at barry@alachuaconservationtrust.org, 904-838-8591. Barry is also the Coordinator for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association.

CONSERVATION FLORIDA PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Conservation Florida’s Private Lands Stewardship Program supports landowners in the use of prescribed fire, invasive species control, and promoting native species. The program offers long-term land management planning, landowner assistance program navigation, contractor matching, and competitive cost-share to offset land management expenses. This program is available for properties within the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape, covering Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk Counties. For more details and to apply for this assistance see the Private Lands Stewardship Program webpage.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION FIELDS & FORESTS PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE IN FLORIDA

The Fields & Forests program works with landowners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields. This low-maintenance opportunity provides landowners with guaranteed annual income, professional forestry support, full coverage of site preparation and planting costs, and the revenue from timber harvests. Payment contracts include a payment of $30 per acre per year and are 30 years duration. See the American Forest Foundation’s Fields & Forests Program web site for details. Questions about Fields & Forests can be directed to (229) 231-3818 or fieldsandforests@forestfoundation.org.

SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? - CHECK OUT THE FOREST HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS FORUM

Hosted by a group of forest and tree health specialists with Southeastern universities and agencies, we are here to help identify pests and diseases in your forest or your backyard, and to recommend a solution, if appropriate. Join the group and report your tree health issue!

Visit the new Forest Health Diagnostic forum on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernTreeHealthDiagnostics/

GOT AN INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?

Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities. Get information on all invasive taxa at UF/IFAS Invasive Species Programs

UF INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEY GROUP: USING CITIZEN SCIENCE TO HELP LAND MANAGEMENT

The UF Invasive Species Survey Group is an all-volunteer group trained to assist land managers by scouting for and mapping invasive plants on managed properties across north Florida and the panhandle. The goal of the initiative is to improve invasive species management at a regional level by assisting land managers who are actively managing or are interested in actively managing invasive plants on their properties. We are happy to work on both public and private lands in the project area. To learn more and request a free survey, visit our website at https://invasivespecies.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/invasive-species-survey-group/ or contact the program coordinator at ISCVolunteerCoordinator@ifas.ufl.edu.

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PARTNERS WEB MAP TOOL

Use this web tool to identify resources at a local watershed scale. The map is at this link: http://viewer.apps.pflcc.databasin.org/v1/index.html. More about Florida Landscape Web Map Tool and how to use it.

Upcoming Events and Webinars

East Florida | West Florida | Webinars

East Florida Events

EAST FLORIDA (Madison County and all counties east and south)

December 6	Managing the Unwanted: Invasive Plants & Herbicide Know-how 10:00 am to 3:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, 22712 West Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669. Florida is especially vulnerable to the introduction, establishment and spread of invasive species because of our geographic location and favorable climate. Join us to learn how to effectively control invasive plants. See link above for details and registration.
December 8	Invasive Plant Workday in Volusia County 9:30 to 11:30 am ET at a property in DeLand, FL. Location will be provided upon RSVP. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding an invasive plant management workday on a property in DeLand, in west Volusia County. Techniques including hack-and-squirt and girdling on nonnative trees will be discussed, and volunteers will have the opportunity to try them firsthand. This event is designed for landowners interested in learning more about invasive plant treatment for habitat enhancement. Please bring a water bottle (water source will be available for refills), hat, gloves, closed-toed shoes, bug spray, and/or sunscreen. Please RSVP with Jim Chapin at james.chapin@myfwc.com or (239) 272-9713.
December 9	Everglades CISMA Workday at Long Key Natural Area 9:00 am to 12:00 pm ET at Long Key Nature Center, 3501 SW 130th Ave, Davie, FL 33330. We will meet at the Nature Center main lobby at 9:00 am and focus on removing invasive plants in expanding areas of the park that have had recent restoration. The focus will be on invasive vine and ground cover removal (golden pothos, rosary pea, oyster plant, etc.). Please bring gloves and a refillable water bottle. A water cooler and snacks will be provided. Please RSVP to casuarez@broward.org.
January 6-28, 2026	Natural Areas Training Academy: Conservation Site Assessment and Planning This training builds a foundation of skills useful in conducting site assessments and developing resource management plans. This is a hybrid course with both online and in-person components. Required online coursework is at your own pace with weekly assignment deadlines. The in-person workshop is held at UF’s Austin Cary Forest Campus northeast of Gainesville, FL. Click the link above for course details, agenda, and registration. Regular registration starts Dec. 17 but early registration is available Dec. 10 for graduates of NATA core courses (not including fire trainings). Email nata@ifas.ufl.edu for details.

West Florida Events

WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)

December 8-13

Northwest FL Prescribed Burn Association Learn to Burn Day, Escambia County
This will take place on the first available burn day from December 8-13, 2025, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm CT at N. Pine Barren Rd, FL. Attendees will experience this day long "start to finish" prescribed burn. Up to 20 participants will be accepted, assigned to crews, observe, ask questions, and gain experience with ignition and holding techniques. Lunch will be provided and sponsored by Farm Credit of NW Florida. Boots, leather gloves and cotton clothing must be worn and if preferred eye protection (i.e. sunglasses, etc.). See link above for details and registration.

Webinars / Online Training / Virtual Events

December 10	UF/IFAS Urban Forestry Extension Council’s Shared Canopy, Shared Ground Lunch and Learn Series Begins 12:30 to 1:30 pm ET. This series will provide a space for learning about new and ongoing urban forestry research and community projects while inviting listeners to engage with presenters and one another. See link above for details and registration.
December 10	Florida Land Steward Webinar: Fields & Forests Program of the American Forest Foundation 2:00 pm ET. Fields & Forests works with landowners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields. This low-maintenance opportunity provides landowners with annual income, professional forestry support, full coverage of site preparation and planting costs, and the profits from subsequent timber harvests. This will be presented by Courtney Miller and Molly Hooks with the American Forest Foundation. See link above for details and registration.
December 17	Southern Fire Exchange Webinar: Plan, Predict, and Burn: The New Prescribed Burn Planning Tool (v2) 1:00 pm ET. The Prescribed Burn Planner (PBP) was originally developed to help users plan and prioritize prescribed burns by providing weather forecasts for individual burn units, thus hopefully reducing the number of missed burn windows. PBP version 2 was created to take prescribed burn planning to the next level. See link above for details and registration.
December 18	Forestry & Natural Resources Webinar: Assessing Storm Damaged Pine Plantations and Reforestation Options for Severe and Catastrophically Damaged Stands 3:00 pm ET. learn about characterizing stand damage levels of pine plantations following major windstorms. These damage levels govern reforestation or current stand maintenance decisions made by landowners and foresters following the storm. Individual lean pine tree recovery likelihood recommendations will be covered as well. For stands that require reforestation, management options and sequences will be covered along with before and after examples of storm damaged stands that required reforestation. See link above for details and to join.
-FEATURED ON-DEMAND PRERECORDED WEBINARS-
Access recordings, links, and materials for all Florida Land Steward Program Events and Webinars here
* UF/IFAS ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY *