UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
May 1, 2012
In Reply Refer To:
1734/4400 (220) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 05/03/2012
Information Bulletin No. 2012-070
To: All Field Officials
Attn: Deputy State Directors for Resources
From: Division Chief, Forest, Rangeland, Riparian, and Plant Conservation
Subject: Registration for Ecological Site Description Workshop – Winnemucca, NV
DD: 5/20/2012
The purpose of this IB is to encourage field managers and staff to attend the Ecological Site Description (ESD) Workshop Tuesday, June 5th, 8:00 am – Thursday, June 7th, 4:00 pm at the Winnemucca Convention Center, Winnemucca, Nevada.
As the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does “more with less” in managing public lands, we are developing tools with our partners to ensure that we make valid land management decisions. One tool that has been developed with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD) and their accompanying State and Transition Models. This tool will be effective for many programs, for example: wildlife biologists managing habitat; fire program personnel seeding burns; botanists conserving threatened and endangered species; and rangeland management specialists evaluating grazing management—all of whom need to know the condition of the land relative to its potential and the likelihood of success of different management options.
The Interagency Ecological Site Applications Workshop will provide hands on training in how to use the ESDs to evaluate land condition, and State and Transition Models to determine which management options have the best chance of success. The trainers are nationally recognized experts in the methodology and will provide both the underlying science and the field methods needed to begin to use these tools.
Workshop Objectives:
1) Enhance foundational knowledge, skills and understanding of Ecological Site Concepts, State and Transition Models, and their interpretations through an ESD product.
2) Provide framework for moving from first to second generation ESDs.
3) Showcase the utility of ESDs as a working and dynamic tool used to document ecological knowledge and assist in applied conservation and management.
The agenda aims to establish a basis for collaboration among participants and introduce them to the experts who will be able to provide assistance in the future when developing projects and working with ESDs. Workshop content will illustrate the current state of ESD development and implementation in the local area, as well as provide the basis of a launching mechanism for additional collaborative efforts.
The Society for Range Management is organizing and facilitating this workshop. There will be keynote speakers from the NRCS, Agricultural Research Service, and the University of Nevada, Reno. The BLM is a sponsoring agency; therefore, registration is complimentary (see attached registration form for the Winnemucca ESD Workshop). Registration opened on April 23rd, and the deadline is May 20, 2012. We suggest individuals register early to attend as there is limited capacity. The link to the form is also posted on the SRM web page at: www.rangelands.org.
Please contact Bob Bolton, Senior Rangeland Management Specialist, WO 220, at 220-912-7204 if you have questions.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
David M. DeArmond Robert M. Williams
Acting, Division Chief Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Forest, Rangeland, Riparian and Plant Conservation
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