- Renewable Bioenergy — Systems for refining sustainably produced forest biomass into high value products such as electricity, transpiration fuels, chemical feedstocks and syngas are ways forestry and the forest products industry contribute to worldwide energy needs. Potential topics include biomass production, harvesting, collecting and sorting procedures, conversion, economic analysis, efficiency and value assessments.
- Emerging Technology — Innovative new technologies, processes, and forest products help address major national issues such as energy security, global climate change, air and water quality, and global industrial competitiveness. Nanomaterials, such as nanocrystalline cellulose, biotechnological advances in genetics, and technological advancements in resource measurements and processing all play important roles.
- Recreation and Tourism— Growing commercial recreation and tourism opportunities of economic importance to rural communities can create new and unexpected demands on private and public forestlands. Topics include ecological, economic and social acceptability, trends, case studies, economic development, operational techniques, recreation and wilderness management, nature-based recreation, and ecotourism.
- Fire Management and Suppression— Wildfires impact large areas quickly and without warning. A wide range of factors go into fire management strategies from risk to buildings and homes to air quality to forest management and economics. Topics include prescribed fire, fuel reduction, air pollution, health risk, economic and ecologic impacts, emergency response systems and forest fire models.
- Longleaf Pine — There is continued interest in the latest science and practical information on the restoration, conservation and management of rich native longleaf pine ecosystems. This topic includes the longleaf pine history and ecology, habitat restoration, planting, fire management, silviculture, pests, invasive species, and landowner incentives.
- Forest Engineering/Operations — Today's forest engineers must continue to increase efficiency while meeting long term operational planning and sustainable forest management goals. Topics include timber harvesting systems, forest transportation design and management, forest operations economics, safety, and energy efficiency.
- Invasive Species Management and Prevention — Invasive species management is a global issue facing land managers regardless of their overall management goals. Topics include prevention techniques, impacts, distribution, early detection and rapid response, containment, control, post-invasion restoration, and local, county, state and federal laws and regulations.
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- International Trade and Markets — International trade and markets impact new business development, existing enterprises, national and international economies, and other forest product markets. Topics include emerging business opportunities such as bioenergy and biorefineries, markets for existing products, trade agreements, illegal logging, forest investment trends, global consumption demands, tropical forestry and forest taxation.
- Landscape Change and Management — The rapid pace of changing forest ownership is leading to new issues and challenges for land managers. Topics include TIMOs and REITs, land conversion, family forestlands, forest conservation easements, future trends, urban growth and expanding urban interface, effects on wildlife, landscape diversity, hydrology, and forest products.
- Certification — From products to people, certification plays an increasing important role in many aspects of forest management. Topics include forest certification systems, green building standards and residential building codes, principles of forest auditing, chain of custody, supply and demand of certified products, and forester licensing and credentialing, and social trends relative to certification.
- Urban and Community Forestry — The growing interest in healthier, more livable and sustainable communities presents unique challenges and opportunities for urban and community forestry. Topics and case studies include tree risk assessment, tree maintenance, inventory, storm damage response and restoration, laws and ordinances, green infrastructure, urban biodiversity, urban and city planning, community partnerships, and new technologies.
- Human Dimensions of Forestry — Human dimensions explore the integration of human beliefs, attitudes and behaviors into natural resource management planning, decision making and implementation. Topics include forests as a social, cultural and spiritual resource, economic and social values, individual and group behavior, forestry education, media and press, generational differences, citizen involvement and communication.
- Ecosystem Goods and Services— The ever-broadening and, oftentimes, competing range of non-market ecosystem goods and services are important commodity values of forests. Presentations will cover trends and practical management information. Topics include identification and valuation, emerging opportunities, products and processes, carbon and water trading, wetland mitigation banking, conservation easements, and compensation for managers.
- Forest Biology and Management— Understanding forest ecology and conservation biology is vital for forest health and sound forest management. Presentations will address challenges in management and silviculture, and present new ideas, approaches, and practical information. Topics include silviculture, biodiversity, conservation biology, wildlife habitat, tree improvement, forest soils, forest hydrology and watershed health.
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