Webinars

Past Webinars

Sustainable Camping on the Pacific Crest Trail (2018)

During this webinar, recreation ecologist Jeff Marion discussed the challenges of camping impacts and "Best Management Practice" options for increasing campsite sustainability. Unregulated camping with visitor-selected sites frequently result in unacceptable resource and social conditions. New research findings reveal the advantages of three alternative options: Designated and Established Site Camping, and Dispersed Pristine Site Camping. Innovations such as shifting camping to naturally-occurring or constructed "side-hill" campsites and using printed and digital maps to shift campers to the most sustainable campsites will also be described. Dr. Lisa Machnik, a Forest Service wilderness manager, discussed wilderness character implications.

Wilderness Stewardship Performance (2017/2018/2019)

Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element

Eric Sandeno (Forest Service) and Colter Pence (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element.

Non-Compliant Infrastructure Element webinar recording from March 14, 2019

Cultural Resources Element

Molly Westby (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Cultural Resources Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Cultural Resources Element.

Cultural Resources Element webinar recording from March 14, 2019

Agency Management Actions Element

Bjorn Fredrickson (Forest Service) and Colter Pence (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Agency Management Actions Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Agency Management Actions Element.

Agency Management Actions Element webinar recording from February 19, 2019

Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Elements

Eric Sandeno (Forest Service) and Colter Pence (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and present detailed information on scoring for the Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Element.

Motorized Equipment/Mechanical Transport Use Authorization Element webinar recording from February 19, 2019

Education Element

Nancy Taylor (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Education Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element.  The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Education Element.

Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Element

Dr. Troy Hall (Oregon State University) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element.  The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Opportunities for Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Element.

Wilderness Character Baseline Element

Adam Barnett (Forest Service) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Wilderness Character Baseline Element along with examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Wilderness Character Baseline Element.

Trails Element

Jaime Schmidt (USDA Forest Service National Trail Program Manager) and Stacy Duke (USDA Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance and presented detailed information on scoring for the Trails Element including examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Trails Element.

Solitude Element

Troy Hall (Oregon State University) and Stacy Duke (Forest Service) provided a short introduction to the Forest Service wilderness performance measure, Wilderness Stewardship Performance, presented detailed information on scoring for the Solitude element, and provided examples of required deliverables associated with the element. The webinar concluded with information on where to find support resources related to the Solitude element.

Wilderness and Accessibility (2018)

Congressional designated wilderness areas offer unique opportunities for remote area experiences with solitude and self-reliance. How do people who have disabilities fit into those areas? Is a wheelchair mechanical transport? During this webinar, accessibility expert Janet Zeller (Forest Service) gives an overview of what is required and what is not required in relation to people who have disabilities and access to wilderness areas.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Wilderness (2017)

Bob Wick (Bureau of Land Management), Parker Martyn (National Park Service), Jeff Lucas (Fish and Wildlife Service), and Sandy Skrien (Forest Service) talked about how each agency handles UAS use from an administrative, outside request (e.g. research, SAR, commercial etc.), and public/recreational standpoint.

Evaluating Proposals for Ecological Intervention in Wilderness (2017)

Beth Hahn and Peter Landres, ecologists from the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, presented the final version of their supplementary tool intended to provide support to agency staff in completing an MRA or MRDG for proposals that involve ecological intervention in wilderness, including projects motivated by the preservation of cultural resources. This supplement is needed because ecological intervention proposals commonly entail complex legal, scientific, and ethical questions that may be beyond the realm of a typical MRA or MRDG. By asking questions early in the proposal evaluation process, this supplement is intended to help agency staff identify issues that need to be resolved before moving forward with the MRA or MRDG and other required analyses.

Wilderness and Technology: A Dialogue (2017)

Panelists presented national and local stewardship, commercial, academic, research, and inter-generational perspectives, including examples or case studies, that illustrate the challenges and benefits of new technologies now being used in wilderness more frequently by visitors. Speakers: Roger Semler, national wilderness lead for the National Park Service; Paige Darden, marketing and public relations director for MyTopo; Dr. Bob Dvorak, professor at Central Michigan University and managing editor of the International Journal of Wilderness; Ann Schwaller, wilderness manager for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; Mark Vandlik, wilderness and technology social science graduate student

Progress in Wilderness Fire Science: Embracing Complexity (2016)

Carol Miller, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute; Greg Aplet, The Wilderness Society; and Dave Campbell, Retired Forest Service District Ranger/Society of Wilderness Stewardship Board Chair, presented state-of-knowledge information and select case studies on recent developments in our understanding of the complexity of wildland fire as a landscape process. This webinar was part of a series on Wilderness Science hosted in partnership with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and the Journal of Forestry in conjunction with the journal's May 2016 Wilderness Science issue.

A Framework to Assess the Effects of Commercial Air Tour Noise on Wilderness (2016)

Megan McKenna and Brent Lignell, Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, National Park Service, discussed a framework designed to assess noise from commercial air tours and the concerns associated with impacts to wilderness character. More generally, the framework may be applicable to decision-making to maintain or improve soundscape conditions in wilderness related to other noise sources in and near wilderness. This webinar was part of a series on Wilderness Science hosted in partnership with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and the Journal of Forestry in conjunction with the journal's May 2016 Wilderness Science issue.

The Next 50 Years: Opportunities for Diversifying the Ecological Representation of the NWPS (2016)

Jocelyn Aycrigg, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho; Matthew Dietz, The Wilderness Society; and James Tricker, University of Montana & Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, presented a simulation on how adding different types of lands (x. National Park Service non-wilderness lands, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service roadless areas etc.) to the National Wilderness Preservation System would change ecological system representation. This webinar was part of a series on Wilderness Science hosted in partnership with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and the Journal of Forestry in conjunction with the journal's May 2016 Wilderness Science issue.

Creative Uses of Technology and Digital Storytelling to Connect People with Wild Places (2016)

During this webinar Sarah Gulick (National Park Service) covered videography case studies in effective less-is-more digital storytelling and techniques that achieve an experiential digital experience. Melanie Hill (WILD Foundation) covered website redesign best practices learned during the WILD Foundation's recent logo and website redesign. Hannah Ettema (National Forest Foundation) covered social media engagement best practices. Kassia Randzio (Montana Wilderness Association) previewed the new digital interactive Montana trail guide, an educational tool for wilderness visitors. The recording for this webinar will be posted when available.

The Diversity of the National Wilderness Preservation System (2015)

This webinar featured speakers from across the wilderness system who discussed the variety of landscapes and diversity of resources and experiences within the NWPS, the range of people who value wilderness for different reason, and the specific things that people value about wilderness. 

U.S. Border Patrol: It's Mission and Wilderness Stewardship (2015)

This webinar featured Assistant Chief Rafael Cano, the National Public Lands Liaison Agent Program Manager at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters and Patrol Agent in Charge Scott Good of the Ajo Border Patrol Station in Southern Arizona. 

The Unique Legal, Scientific, and Ethical Challenges of Restoration in Wilderness (2014)

This webinar presented a preliminary framework to help make defensible decisions regarding restoration in wilderness.

Managing Fish and Wildness in Wilderness Case Studies (2014)

This webinar includes case studies presented by Dan Tyers, Forest Service Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center; Sara Aicher, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge; and Barbara Miranda Bruno, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. See the Fish and Wildlife Resources Toolbox for presentations and handouts.

Wilderness in the Courts (2013)