Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, at least on a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission game land, there’s usually a prescribed burn — one of the best and most cost-effective methods of managing habitat for wildlife. A prescribed burn, or an intentional burning of vegetation under strict and specific circumstances, helps restore and maintain wildlife habitat. It is a cost-effective tool that Commission staff uses to create and maintain suitable and ample wildlife habitat in old fields, native grasslands and open-canopy woodlands on game lands throughout the state. Wildlife foresters, technicians and biologists conduct the majority of prescribed
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A recent study by U.S. Forest Service, university, and state agency researchers provides baseline information on contemporary populations of American chestnut needed to support restoration of the tree to the forests it once dominated. Biologist Harmony Dalgleish from the College of William and Mary served as lead author on the research published in the journal Forests, with co-authors that include Forest Service research geneticist Dana Nelson, Virginia Information Technology Agency resource scientist John Scrivani, and Purdue University forest ecologist Douglass Jacobs. In addition to evaluating the current distribution and abundance of American chestnut, the researchers reviewed research to provide input on
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Located less than 2 miles from the Appalachian Trail and the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Gardens, the 48-acre Broad Branch tract adjoins Pisgah National Forest and contains a broad mix of habitat. The Southern Appalachians Highland Conservancy acquired it in December, and plan to own and manage it for long-term forest health and water quality. “This tract shares a nearly one-half mile boundary with Pisgah National Forest,” said Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “It certainly earns the description of ‘highlands,’ with elevations exceeding 4,500 feet where it joins the National Forest.” Located within the state-designated Roan Mountain Massif Natural Area, the
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A lot of momentum is building towards coordinating regional Technical Committee meetings to engage more organizations and individuals around AMJV priorities. While work groups composed of Management Board and Technical Committee representatives are making big strides in tackling issues on several fronts to better position the partnership in working internationally, communicating on dynamic forests, and focusing on energy-related risks. Some of the great progress made in recent months includes: Regional Meetings: AMJV staff are coordinating a northern region Technical Committee Meeting in early spring of 2016 for partners in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to facilitate discussions on regional
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Last January, the AMJV received a Regional Conservation Partnership Program award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to enhance Cerulean Warbler habitat in the region. Since then, the partnership conducted meetings with all state partners involved about the implementation of the project and hired four new staff members to oversee habitat management. Landowner sign up will now begin in earnest in early 2016. Currently, staff and partners are designing flyers and other outreach materials to mail to over 700 landowners in West Virginia and 1,000 in Pennsylvania to raise awareness and promote the forest management component of the project. Implementing
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At the Fall AMJV Management Board Meeting, Dan Brauning with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Mike Burger of Audubon New York were unanimously voted as new Chair and Vice Chair respectively. They will take over leadership duties from David Whitehurst of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Paul Johansen of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, who have admirably guided the AMJV since its foundation and were instrumental in building the successful partnership we have today. Dan Brauning has been an integral part of the AMJV Management Board since 2008. He currently juggles the multi-faceted issues
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Click here to view and download the 2023 AMJV Partnership Year in Review!
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The 2023 AMJV Impact Report is now available for downloading and sharing! Starting in 2022, this beautiful report has been designed annually by Liz Brewer (AMJV Outreach Specialist) to…
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by Liz Brewer, AMJV Outreach Specialist Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), and the West Virginia…
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