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Workshop Agenda for:
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Wildlife Conservation and Management Workshop (WCM)
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Date:
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No Longer Offered
REQUEST in AgLearn to create demand and to receive email updates
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Host:
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Northern Arizona University
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Place:
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Flagstaff, Arizona
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Draft Agenda
Download DOC (86 KB) PDF (63 KB)
Organizers:
Dr. Carol Chambers, NAU
WCM is a BLENDING of online and onsite.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
"REQUEST" in AgLearn to receive email updates including possible webinars on specific past agenda topics. Special Topic requests? Email WFW Continuing Education Program Leader (switt01"at" fs.fed.us)
ON LINE: INTRODUCTION
January to April
On-line introductions of participants and organizers with Carol Chambers, Wildlife Ecologist, NAU School of Forestry and Christina Vojta, Wildlife Ecologist, Washington Office: Participants will describe key ecosystems from their regions to the rest of the class and highlight issues that they are currently facing. Participants will become familiar with Vista, the web-learning tool used for the course. As a requirement for the course, all participants will join in one introductory conference call in January
Goals:
- Establish a learner-friendly atmosphere.
- Get to know issues and ecosystems from across the U.S.
- Describe common or unique issues.
Session organizer: Carol Chambers
Module 1 Getting Started
SECTION 1: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN POLICIES DRIVING MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
What are recent developments in laws, regulations, and policies that influence wildlife management on Forest Service lands? This session will be led by Christina. Participants will discuss a variety of management drivers including the revised Forest Planning Regulations, Sensitive Species Policy, Counter-part Regulations, Ecosystem Restoration, and Forest Service responsibilities under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Section organizer: TBA (vice Vojta)
Contributors: TBD
Goal: same for all modules
- Learn how recent policy developments influence wildlife habitat management activities.
Module 1 Planning Regulations (TBD)
Module 2 Migratory Bird Treaty Act (TBD)
Module 3 Policy Affecting Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species (TBD)
Module 4 Ecosystem Restoration Framework (TBD)
SECTION 2: ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
Carolyn Sieg, Research Plant Ecologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, will provide an overview of disturbance ecology including types of disturbances, frequency, intensity, and extent, human v. “natural” disturbances, and effects of disturbances on ecosystems and species. Participants will learn about range of natural variability (RNV) and sustainability thresholds, with examples on fire, insects and disease, and invasive species.
Session organizer: Carolyn Sieg
Instructors/Contributors: TBD
Goals: see each Module
Module 1 Range of Natural Variability and Disturbance Ecology (including fire, insects, and disease) (Carolyn Sieg)
- Be able to define what a disturbance is and key attributes used to characterize various disturbances.
- Have an understanding of the concept of range of natural variability (RNV), including a definition, types of information used to describe RNV for a given system, appropriate interpretation of RNV, limitations of the concept, and applications to management.
Module 2 Types of Disturbances and Their Interactions (Carolyn Sieg)
- Understand how disturbances such as insects, diseases, and fire naturally function to affect vegetation structure and composition in forest, grassland, and shrubland ecosystems.
- Understand how present day conditions have affected presence, patterns, and impacts of various disturbances.
- Understand approaches to incorporate natural disturbances to return or maintain ecosystems within RNV, especially under projected climate changes.
Module 3 Invasive Species (Carolyn Sieg and TBD)
- Understand the scope of the invasive species problem in the U.S. today and the relevancy of the problem to land management agencies.
- Be aware of key laws, regulations and policies governing management of invasive species.
- Be aware of key web resources and other reference materials that are useful in managing invasive species.
- Understand approaches to managing invasive species, including ideas about how to prioritize species and locations for control and how to assess risk associated with introducing an exotic species.
- Understand approaches to managing invasive species, including ideas about how to prioritize species for control and how to assess risk associated with introducing an exotic species.
SECTION 3: PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Bruce Marcot, Research Wildlife Ecologist, Pacific Northwest Research Station, will review principles of conservation biology at the species and population level (for example, metapopulation dynamics and extinction debt) and factors that predispose species to extinction and issues at the landscape scale (for example, effects of corridors, landscape permeability and connectivity, patch sizes, fragmentation). Bruce will discuss factors that put species at risk, how to identify conditions to sustain species, multi-scale approaches for providing appropriate conditions, and appropriate and inappropriate uses of surrogate species in conservation. We will describe the genetics of the species concept and use of genetic tools for conservation of species and conservation. Carol will describe wildlife diseases that affect the health and survival of wild animals.
Session organizer: Bruce Marcot
Instructors/Contributors: Carol Chambers, and a conservation geneticist (TBD)
Goals: see each Module
Module 1 Species and Population Conservation Principles and Methods (Bruce Marcot)
- Understand the principles of species taxonomy, ecology, and conservation.
- Understand the principles of population viability and metapopulation dynamics.
- Understand effects of habitat pattern (distribution, abundance, trend, corridors, and fragmentation) on species and population conservation.
- Identify key factors (“stressors”) that limit species and place them at risk.
- Understand pros and cons of various approaches used in assessing and managing for species viability.
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Module 2 Conservation Genetics (TBD)
- Understand the genetic underpinnings of the species concept in the light of new genetic testing capabilities
- Understand potential influences of genetic sampling on the conservation of species and populations
Module 3 Wildlife Diseases (Carol Chambers)
- Learn about diseases that impact wildlife populations
- Learn approaches to control or limit wildlife disease spread
Module 4 Surrogate Species (Bruce Marcot, Carol Chambers, and Dick Holthausen)
- Understand the concept of surrogate species – including species and system approaches.
- Understand use and abuse of MIS under the 1982 Planning regulations.
- Understand appropriate and inappropriate application of surrogates for developing conservation approaches, including appropriate ways to deal with factors that place species at risk, using both species and system approaches.
- Understand the potential applications and processes for selection of surrogate species in management applications.
SECTION 4: APPLICATIONS
Three steps for applying ecological processes and conservation biology principles to wildlife habitat management are to use existing wildlife habitat relationship models or develop new ones, plan and design habitat restoration projects, and monitor the effects of management on wildlife populations and habitat. Lowell Suring, Wildlife Ecologist, Washington Office, will provide a basic background on the general kinds of habitat models, their key components and potential uses, and how to select and evaluate models for your specific applications. Christina will describe habitat restoration in the context of disturbance ecology, as well as habitat restoration for species associated with late-seral vegetation. She will outline our responsibilities for monitoring wildlife populations and habitats, and provide guidance for developing monitoring programs using the best available science.
Session organizers: TBD
Goals: see each Module
Module 1 Using Models for Managing Wildlife Habitat (TBD)
- Increase understanding of wildlife habitat relationships models.
- Become familiar with the strengths and limitations of existing wildlife habitat relationships models and know how to access them.
Module 2 Habitat Restoration and Enhancement (TBD)
- Understand how restoration can be designed to emulate natural disturbance
- Learn about management activities that can benefit late-seral species
Module 3 Monitoring Wildlife Populations and Habitat (TBD)
- Become familiar with monitoring guidance in Forest Service and BLM technical guides
- Learn how to use existing information to meet monitoring needs
ON-SITE: SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS :: DRAFT
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA
MONDAY
Travel to Flagstaff, Arizona
TUESDAY
WELCOME and SYNTHESIS OF ON-LINE COURSE CONTENT
Logistics (lodging, eating, and local arrangements) of the course. In-person introductions of participants and organizers. Carol Chambers and cadre will kick off group discussions that synthesize on-line course material. Participants will be asked to describe new perspectives and raise questions from information gained through the on-line course.
Meeting room: Ponderosa Room, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
For a map, see http://home.nau.edu/maps.asp and select the South Campus map. The Rocky Mountain Research Station is Building 82 and it is about a 10 minute walk from hotels on the recommended list.
Goals:
- Meet in person and establish a learner-friendly atmosphere
- Follow up on discussion threads that began on-line
- Synthesize on-line course content
IMPLEMENTING AND DOCUMENTING PROJECTS
Threatened and Endangered Species Program Leader will describe the process of developing and documenting projects, accessing information, improving efficiency of biological evaluations including environmental assessments and associated BAs and BEs, and using the Counterpart Regulations to the Endangered Species Act. Instructor will lead a discussion of common pitfalls in project development and documentation that lead to appeals and lawsuits.
Goals:
- Learn how to access scientific literature from your work place.
- Learn effective ways to influence project design in order to accomplish ecosystem management objectives for species.
- Understand characteristics of effective documentation of project effects
- Increase efficiency in tiering project design, analyses, and determinations from one scale to another
- Improve skills in cumulative effects analyses
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5:00 – 6:30 EVENING SOCIAL AT THE WEATHERFORD HOTEL
WEDNESDAY
HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT FIELD TRIP
Cadre will start the day in the Ponderosa Room, Rocky Mountain Research Station, with an overview of habitat restoration from the context of ecological processes and will suggest ways to set priorities for habitat restoration across medium to large landscapes. Carol Chambers will lead an (almost) all-day field trip to see examples of forest and meadow management in the Southwest. We will examine effects of fire and insects on forest structure, programs for enhancing habitat, controlling invasive species, and more.
Meeting room: Ponderosa Room, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Goals:
- Understand the role of habitat restoration and enhancement in the context of ecological processes
- See examples of effects of disturbance on forest ecosystems and examine management practices in action.
- See restoration practices in action and examples of native and invasive species response to restoration treatments.
- Enjoy a day outside!
THURSDAY
MONITORING AND MODELING APPLICATIONS
Cadre will explain monitoring designs that account for imperfect detection of wildlife individuals (occupancy modeling, distance sampling). Instructor will present examples that use these approaches. Participants will then brainstorm monitoring designs for species of interest. Instructor will demonstrate a corridor design tool for linking wildlife habitat. Participants will discuss opportunities to use the corridor design tool on their home units.
Meeting room: Ponderosa Room, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Goals:
- Learn how to incorporate imperfect detection into monitoring applications
- Become familiar with tools for wildlife abundance estimation and occupancy modeling
- Become familiar with a corridor design tool and how it can be used
THE ROLE OF THE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST IN THE FOREST SERVICE
Panel will provide their perspectives on the role of the wildlife biologist in the Forest Service. Participants will provide their own perspectives in a Q&A format with each speaker.
Goals:
- Understand perspectives that Forest, Regional and Washington Office staff have on wildlife management and the role of the wildlife biologist
- Provide a forum for candid discussion
REFLECTIONS AND EVALUATION
We will review the key concepts from the course and how participants may use them in facing issues and ecosystem challenges at their home offices. We will also conduct a structured evaluation of the shortcourse.
Goals:
- Review how different sections of the course fit into course goals and objectives.
- Review the ecosystem challenges and issues raised on-line.
- Review the most important items taken from training.
- Review sources of information for use back in the home office.
- Assist in future course development by participating in a course evaluation.
GROUP DINNER AT OLIVE GARDEN
FRIDAY
Travel home safely!
Additional information:
SF182 Information
INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED for 2014
County: Coconino
Once you register, it is a good time to do your SF182. Kudos if you have done it already! You may have heard - it is mandatory to do SF182s in AgLearn.
As with most things...its not hard once you know how. Here is some info on 'how".
All the WFW-Continuing Education workshops are listed as "internal". USDA set up the SF182 process in AgLearn for "external" listed only. Purchasing agents and travel processing clerks want SF182s for any training that costs money and/or involves travel so you still need to do it.
Step 1. Log into AgLearn
Step 2. Be sure your supervisor is listed in your profile
("Personal" tab...."Profile" hyper text on the horizontal menu -- scroll down past your email info and you'll find the supervisor cell. click on the handlens icon and you can search for your supervisor by last name. Shelly Witt can do this really fast for you if you can't get it to work). Also be sure your email info is listed. When done, if you added any info, be sure to click "Apply Changes".
Step 3. "click" on/select the "Learning" tab.
Step 4. On the horizontal menu under the "Learning" tab select "SF182 Requests". It is the far right option.
NOTE: You can't "save" the SF182 and finish it later (future updates in AgLearn should allow you to save your SF182). Have your data pulled together (travel costs, vendor info, etc) as well as filling in email and supervisor before doing the SF182 - otherwise you will waste your time searching around for the information. Be aware that if you are "inactive" while filling out your SF182 in AgLearn for 10 minutes or more you may get "logged out". If this happens your SF182 will disappear when you hit "submit".
Step 5. You should be looking at a page titled:
"Request, Authorization, Agreement & Certification of Training". This is where you can track the status of your SF182s. This is also where you create/initiate your SF182 for this workshop.
Click on/select "New Request".
NOTE: don't confuse the use of the word "Request" here with "request" used in other parts of AgLearn. Filling out an SF182 all by itself will NOT automatically register you for training or request unscheduled training. This part of AgLearn is not connected to the registration side of AgLearn.
Ok - back to the SF182.
Filling in the SF182 in AgLearn
Section A: Trainee Information
Step 6. You should see the SF182 populated with some of your personal information. You do NOT have to provide your social security number (shouldn't be on the form anymore) or home address. The form lists the address where your time sheet is routed to NFC...not necessarily your real home or work address. You can delete it out.
Step 7. Fill in the other info per usual habit.
A. Agency Code, agency sub element and submitting office number. (Optional Field)
If don’t know it, skip and move on. If you happen to know your "number" go ahead and fill it in. It might automatically fill in.
B. Request Status / Record Action (Optional Field): – choice of ‘Add’ or ‘Delete’; Choose ‘Add’ if doesn't auto fill.
A.1 Applicant’s Name Pre-populated
A. 2 & 3? Missing from the form. Must be the unnumbered fields for your name.
A.4 Home Address (Optional Field): – Pre-populated; delete if you want – private & not needed
A.5 Home Phone (Optional Field): – Pre-populated; delete if you want – private & not needed
A.6 Position Level (Mandatory Field): Select one of the following:
6a. Non supervisory - Anyone who does not have supervisory/team leader responsibilities.
6b. Supervisory - First line supervisors who do not supervise other supervisors; typically those who are responsible for an employee's performance appraisal or approval of their leave.
6c. Manager - Those in management positions who typically supervise one or more supervisors.
6d. Executive - Members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent.
A.7 Organizational Mailing Address Field - office mailing address. This should pre-populate in AgLearn. Sometimes it puts the administrative address where your paperwork is handled which is not always where you actually work. Enter the office address where you pick up mail. If the workshop has pre-work, it will be mailed to this address.
A.8 Office Phone (Optional Field): Enter the trainee’s telephone number. Include area code, office number and extension.
A.9 Work Email Address (Optional Field)
A.10 Position Title (Optional Field): – Enter the trainee’s current position.
A.11 Applicant Handicapped or Disabled (Optional Field): If the trainee is in need of special arrangements (brailing, taping, interpreters, facility accessibility, etc); describe the requirements in the space provided or on a separate sheet. This is new –and really important for the vendor to know ASAP to ensure a quality product.
A.12 Type of Appointment (Optional Field): – Pre-populated
A.13 Education Level (Optional Field): – Pre-populated
A.14 Pay Plan (Mandatory Field): – If not pre-populated, enter the trainee’s pay plan. (e.g., GS, WG, ES…Pay Band)
A.15 Series (Mandatory Field): If not pre-populated, enter the trainee’s position classification four digit series. (e.g., 0201)
A.16 Grade (Mandatory Field): – If not pre-populated, enter the trainee’s grade level. (1-15)
A.17 Step (Optional Field): Enter the appropriate step. (1-10)
Section B: Training Course Information
B.1a Training Vendor Name (Mandatory Field)
For Wildlife Conservation & Management: Dr. Carol Chambers
Tab over to second cell and type in 'Northern Arizona University' (vendor name) in field labeled “If other, please specify”. You only have 30 spaces.
Note: This is probably a faster route no matter what training you are taking; rather than scroll down the long random list.
For the WFW/CE program, the vendor contact information is also available at our website: www.fs.fed.us/biology/education
Street Address: Northern Arizona University (NAU)
School of Forestry, 200 East Pine Knoll Drive, PO Box 15018
City: Flagstaff
State/Province: AZ
Postal Code: 86011-5018
Country: USA
B.1b Location of Training Site (Optional Field): Provide town/state of the training site if different from B1a. If same, mark box labeled “If same, mark box”. This course: Flagstaff AZ
B.1c Vendor Email Address: (Optional Field): – carol.chambers@nau.edu
B.1d Vendor Telephone Number: (Optional Field): 928-523-0014
B.2a Course Title (Mandatory Field): – Wildlife Conservation & Management
B.2b Course Number Code (Optional Field): – We use the AgLearn Schedule ID: 14888 (for FY2010)
B.3 Training Start Date (Mandatory Field): – Enter the start date of the training to be completed by the trainee.
Note: The label for the field incorrectly defines the format. Use the calendar icon to select the date or enter the date manually in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy
04/11/2010
B.4 Training Complete Date (Mandatory Field): – Enter the end date of the training to be completed by the trainee.
Note: The label for the field incorrectly defines the format. Use the calendar icon to select the date or enter the date manually in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy
04/15/2010
B.5 Training Duty Hours (Mandatory Field): Enter the number of duty hours for training.
36 hours
B.6 Training Non-Duty Hours (Mandatory Field): Enter the number of non-duty hours for training.
0 (zero)
B.7 Training Purpose Type (Mandatory Field): – From the drop-down list, select the purpose for taking this course or program using the appropriate training purpose type code. We recommend 03: Improve/Maintain Present Performance - Training to provide the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to improve or maintain proficiency in present job. Though for B.9 it seems you should pick 01: Program Mission.
B.8 Training Type Code Hidden Field
Determined by selection of Field #9 (Training Sub-Type Code)
B.9 Training Sub-Type Code (Mandatory Field): – From the drop-down list, select the Training Sub-Type code that applies to the requested training. We recommend either: 01_03: Training_Science.
B.10 Training Delivery Type Code (Mandatory Field): Enter the Training Delivery Type code. 01 – Traditional Classroom
B.11 Training Designation Type Code (Mandatory Field): Enter the Training Designation Type Code: 05 – Not Applicable (N/A)
B.12 Training Credit (Mandatory Field): Enter 0; no credits earned.
B.13 Training Credit Type Code (Mandatory Field): – Enter 04 – Not Applicable (N/A)
B.14 Training Accreditation Indicator (Mandatory Field): Enter No (N)
B.15 Continued Service Agreement Required Indicator (Mandatory Field): Enter No (N)
B.16 Continued Service Agreement Required Expiration Date (Optional Field):– Enter NA or leave blank
B.17 Training Source Type Code: (Mandatory Field): –02: Government - External
B.18 Training Objectives (Optional Field):
- explain habitat issues and concepts that shape resource management at the national, regional and local levels.
- apply habitat concepts and management in light of recent theory, technology and research findings.
- apply new knowledge to situations and actual problems encountered in resource management.
B.19 Agency Use Only (Optional Field): For use by an agency as needed. Skip it.
Section C: Cost and Billing Information
C.1 Direct Cost and appropriation/fund chargeable (Mandatory Field). – Enter the following data:
1a. Tuition: $1,300
Insert the actual/final cost of training tuition and fees for training completed by the employee that was paid for by the Federal Government.
Enter the associated budget and accounting code in the Appropriation Fund field. Something like “0100 NFVW00”. INCLUDE your Override code too!
1b. Books or Materials - $0.00
1c. Total Cost - $1,300
C.2 Indirect Cost and appropriation/fund chargeable (Mandatory Field): – Enter the following data:
2a. Travel - Insert the actual/final travel cost excluding per diem for training completed by the employee that was paid for by the Federal Government. You need to calculate this based on if you are traveling by walking, metro, driving, flying, shuttle, taxi or any combination.
Enter the associated budget and accounting code in the Appropriation Fund field. Something like “0100 NFVW00”. INCLUDE your Override code too!
2b. Per Diem - Insert the actual/final per diem cost (e.g., meals, lodging, miscellaneous expenses) for training completed by the employee that was paid for by the Federal Government. You can get Per Diem from the GSA website.
Per diem for Flagstaff, AZ: $93 lodging and $44 M&IE ($137 total); $33 first and last day of travel.
Vendor Negotiated Room Rate: TBA
Enter the associated budget and accounting code in the Appropriation Fund field.
2c. Total - The total cost is system generated after the Travel and Per Diem costs are entered.
C.3 Total Training Non-Government Contribution Cost: (Optional Field): Enter the cost contributed by the trainee or other non-Government organizations for the training completed by the trainee.
C.4 Document/Purchase Order/Requisition Number: (Optional Field): Not applicable for WFW-Continuing Education workshops. VPI accepts credit cards, checks, cash. Forest Service - you can pay by credit card; NOT your travel card, but a "Purchasing Card". You may not have purchasing card, but your Purchasing Agent does.
C.5 8-Digit Station Symbol (Optional Field): Enter the 8-digit station symbol of the nominating Agency Finance Office. This is the same number discussed at the top of this document for field “A”. Skip it if you don’t know it.
C.6 Billing Instructions (Optional Field):– Normally asking for ASC address. For Leadership and Communications, this is not applicable because the SF182 is not used as a billing document. It is used for assuring supervisor approval and other agency tracking.
Questions? Problems? Contact Shelly Witt, USFS, WFW-Continuing Education Program Leader. Happy to help.
The Government Travel Card may never be used to pay for training, training fees, or conference fees. The use of your personal credit card is also inappropriate, and may lead to personal financial responsibility for any training costs.
Submit Your SF182
Signature blocks will show up after you submit the form in AgLearn.
Step 8. Go to the bottom of your screen and hit submit. This will send a message to your Supervisor's email box (hence why we need your supervisor info in your profile before you start - and your supervisor needs to have his/her email info entered in AgLearn). You should see the status show up immediately in your AgLearn profile - the page where you first clicked "New Request".
NOTE: some supervisors don't notice the AgLearn email because it can come from "Plateau" (AgLearn's real software name). On rare occasions the FS Spam filter can filter out the email. Always good to ask your supervisor to go into AgLearn and approve the SF182. Supervisors should have a tab saying "my employees".
AgLearn will NOT automatically pay the vendor. Once you get supervisor approval you should print your SF182 and run it through the usual Purchasing/payment route. NAU can take credit card or check or they can invoice.
Fill out the NAU payment form and contact Karen Leuppe (Karen.Leuppe@nau.edu). You can fax the form or give Karen your credit card information over the phone.
That should be "it"! 8 fun steps. Thanks for taking the time to fill it out! Hope it doesn't take all day.
After the workshop: When you return from the course you need to go back into your AgLearn profile and "verify" you attended. Your supervisor will need to do this too. Otherwise you will get naggy emails later on. HRM has information docs setting out all this:
http://fsweb.hcm.fs.fed.us/training/support.php
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