Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation

10/08/2026

https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/10/cnre-seiler-emeritus.html

A member of the Virginia Tech community for 45 years, Seiler has significant and award-winning contributions to the field of tree identification through teaching and technology.

10/05/2026

Virginia Tech is now the operational base for the Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, administering an ongoing Joint Fire Science Program award that brings $192,000 per year (in two-year cycles) to support personnel, field monitoring, and regional outreach. Led by Associate Professor Adam Coates, the consortium will expand fire science delivery across the Appalachians to inform prescribed fire, ecology, and wildfire risk reduction.

Virginia Tech has secured a federal Joint Fire Science Program grant to host the Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, advancing regional wildland fire outreach and monitoring.

09/16/2026

Congratulations to Jennifer Gagnon and her team at the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program (VFLEP) for winning the 2026 Family Forests Comprehensive Program Education Award from the National Association of University Forest Resources Program and the National Woodland Owners Association. The selection recognizes the breadth and sustained impact of the program’s work on behalf of Virginia’s family woodland owners. The review committee was especially impressed by the team’s long-standing collaboration, diverse educational programming, applied research, and demonstrated success in helping landowners make informed forest management decisions. Team members pictured are: (from left) Adam Downing, extension agent; Brian Bond, associate dean of Extension, Outreach and Engagement for the College of Natural Resources and Environment; Jennifer Gagnon, coordinator for the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program; Bill Worrell, extension agent; Karen Snape, extension specialist; Neil Clark, extension agent; Jason Fisher, extension agent; and the front row is the HokieBird, who is not part of the team but appreciates a well-managed forest as much as anyone.

08/13/2026

08/04/2026

So excited to announce that registration is open for the 50th Anniversary Fall Forestry & Wildlife Field Tours!

October 20 - Montgomery County
October 21 - Franklin County
October 22 - Orange County*
October 23 - Hanover County

Registration is $45/person or $80/couple and includes breakfast, lunch, refreshments, swag, and transportation.
*Orange County registration also includes dinner and a tour of the mansion at James Madison's Montpelier.

Register for all 4 and get one free!

Low-cost lodging is also available.

Come help us celebrate the longest running program of its type in Virginia and perhaps even the country while learning about sustainable forest and wildlife management. Link to details in comments.

Virginia Cooperative Extension: Orange County
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Hanover County Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment
Virginia Cooperative Extension - Montgomery County
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Franklin County
Turman Lumber Company
Beth Flippo Hutchins
James Madison's Montpelier
W. E. Skelton 4H Educational Conference Center at SML
Adam Downing
WC Worrell
Virginia Tree Farm Foundation
Sustainable Forestry Initiative

05/05/2026