The History and Ecology of Fire

in the Southern Appalachians

with Steve Norman, research ecologist with the USDA Southern Forest Research Station

Tuesday, September 12, 7 p.m.

Reuter Center at UNCA Manheimer Room 2)

watch the video here https://wetransfer.com/downloads/e7fb70bdbc9804b891b8a2db5516beb220231004175310/47a9c048fbe4fd46e80d6b79152e5f7720231004175310/bce9c6?trk=TRN_TDL_01&utm_campaign=TRN_TDL_01&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid

Steve Norman is a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station in Asheville. Originally from Pennsylvania, he spent a decade researching the historical fire regimes of northern California. Based in Asheville since 2007, his current work focuses on how to monitor forest disturbances using new technologies, such as satellite data and cloud-based computing. In the southern Appalachians, he has the documented the historic decline of Eastern hemlock and the effects of fire on tree mortality and fuels. He views our current forest conditions through the lenses of historical and landscape diversity.

No RSVP necessary for this event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Past Events

BRNN Annual Meeting^Featured

September 6

Holmes Educational State Forest, Hendersonville

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

RSVP: president@brnnetwork.org

On Wednesday, September 6, we will hold our organization’s Annual Meeting and celebrate our 10th anniversary. We hope you will join us. BRNN was founded on September 4, 2013 at the NC Arboretum by six visionary participants in the Blue Ridge Naturalist certificate program: Diane Bauknight, Charlotte Caplan, Ken Czarnomski, Barbara Harrison, Linda Martinson and Tom Southard. The rest, as they say, is history.

We are returning to the Holmes Educational State Forest, where we will enjoy hikes guided by Dan Lazar and Charlotte Caplan, followed by a lunch catered by City Bakery. Our brief business meeting will include the announcement of our Blue Ridge Naturalist of the Year. The BRNN Board also will present a slate of nominees for positions that will be open in 2024. Additional nominations will be taken from the floor.

You must be a member of BRNN to attend the Annual Meeting but if you are not a current member you may join onsite and your dues will be good through 2024.

RSVP to president@brnnetwork.org.

Outings, Past Events

Linville Gorge^Featured

Eleven BRNN members joined US Forest Service Botanist Gary Kauffman and his intern for an expedition to Linville Gorge to see the interesting and rare plants found there. Our group travelled south from the Table Rock trailhead towards the Chimneys and learned about a remarkable variety of plants along the way. Some highlights along this stretch included Carolina lilies, starry campion, Table Mountain pine, wild lily of the valley, witch hazel, fothergilla, sand myrtle, and some interesting fungi, mosses and lichens. At the end of the trail with a bit of clambering we saw the stars of the show, the rare Hudsonia montana and Liatris helleri. But the plants weren’t the only attraction; we were treated to amazing views of Linville Gorge and some fascinating Quartzite rock outcrops. Having spent too much time picking Gary’s brain on the outbound hike, we did not have time to climb Table Rock in the afternoon, but instead stopped along the roadside in a couple of places to see Appalachian sunflowers and some gorgeous yellow-fringed orchids. All agreed that it was a full but rewarding day.