Prescribed Burn Program Best Practices for Southeast Michigan: From Effective and Inclusive Engagement to an Informed Burn Plan

The Stewardship Network

by

Friday, February 3, 2023
9:20 am - 10:10 am
02/03/2023 09:20:00 02/03/2023 10:10:00 America/Detroit TSN Conference: Prescribed Burn Program Best Practices for Southeast Michigan: From Effective and Inclusive Engagement to an Informed Burn Plan https://conference.stewardshipnetwork.org/session/3-0920-concurrent-session-5-room-c Virtual The Stewardship Network staff@stewardshipnetwork.org

Prescribed burning is a very important tool in managing diverse landscapes, but developing a complete burn program that is both informed and engages diverse partners can be a daunting process. We gathered and synthesized a variety of sources and perspectives on western and Indigenous prescribed burning practices in order to guide the development of a southeast Michigan burn program that is inclusive, holistic, and informed by a broad base of knowledge and experience. We will share some of the key outcomes of this synthesis, including an example of an Indigenous fire acknowledgement, a guide for communication practices that build public support, and a comprehensive burn plan prescription template. With these materials, we hope to contribute to the conversation among current and future land managers who recognize the need for greater inclusion of and collaboration with Indigenous partners, stronger community engagement, and more cohesive information on best burn practices.

Presenters

Anna McAtee
University of Michigan
Anna is a second-year Master’s student at University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability studying Ecosystem Science and Management. She graduated from Regis University in Colorado with a B.S. in Environmental Science & Biology. After graduation, she plans to work in place-based environmental education that seeks to understand the socio-ecological systems of reciprocity.
Vincent Salgado
University of Michigan
Vince is an accelerated Master’s program student attending University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability, and is specializing in three sectors: “Ecosystem Science and Management”, “Environmental Justice”, and “Behavior, Education, and Communication.” Vince graduated from University of Michigan’s School of Literature, Science, and the Arts with a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a specialization in Land and Resource Management. Throughout his career, he hopes to assist government agencies in promoting environmental justice, inclusion, and equity with Indigenous Tribes and local communities throughout conservation.
Allegra Baird
University of Michigan
Allegra is a second year Master’s student in the School for Environment and Sustainability, focusing on Ecosystem Science and Management. Allegra graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors in Earth and Environmental Sciences accompanied with a minor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Having grown up in Michigan, she’s enjoyed deepening her connection to the land and expanding her knowledge of our ecosystems through field-based plant and soil ecology courses. She hopes to continue building upon and applying this knowledge in field-based work that enhances the integrity of natural communities in the face of climate change while promoting sustainable relationships between people and the natural world.
Foster Woodruff
University of Michigan
Foster is currently in his third year as a Master’s of Landscape Architecture student at the University of Michigan. He previously graduated from Andrews University, located in Southwest Michigan, with a B.S. in Horticulture, a concentration in Environmental and Landscape Design and a minor in Photography. Over the past six years, he has worked with a variety of landscape architecture firms across the country, gathering exposure to large-scale commercial projects and high-end residential design. For Foster, value is found in creating spaces which satisfy functional requirements, while upholding an aesthetic which evokes emotional responses to the sense of a place.
Sheila Schueller
University of Michigan
Sheila completed her MS and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, and currently teaches graduate level courses in Ecology, Conservation, and Restoration at UM School for the Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). She has served as a consultant in adaptive management and currently pursues collaborative applied research on sustainable approaches to invasive species management and on the ways managed and built environments (from farms to yards) can support biodiversity and ecosystem function and services. In all endeavors, she seeks to integrate academic activities with the real-world data needs and challenges of natural resource planners and managers.