Yakima, WA- Yakima Valley College, in collaboration with the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, presents the Winter Biology Lecture Series. Admission is free and open to the community.

Dead Trees in the Forest: An Important Natural Resource
Presenter: Jeff Kozma
March 13, 2018 • 7:00pm • Glenn Anthon Hall, Building 4, Room 215

Jeff Kozma works as a Wildlife Biologist in the Timber Fish and Wildlife Program within the Dept. of Fisheries Resources Management of the Yakama Nation.  His education in wildlife biology and ecology includes a BS in Environmental Forest Biology from the State University of NY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a MS in Wildlife Science from Texas Tech University.  His main research interests focus on the life history and reproductive biology of birds and how habitat characteristics influence nest survival.  He has worked in a variety of different habitats including the Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico, sagebrush/shrub-steppe on the US Army’s Yakima Training Center, and currently in managed ponderosa pine forests where he has been studying the reproductive biology of the White-headed Woodpecker and other cavity-nesting birds for the last 15 years.  Jeff is the chair of the Snag Conservation Working Group whose aim is to protect snags on public lands.

Many people view forest fires as a nuisance at best, especially during smoke-filled summer days that can be a regular occurrence in the Yakima Valley. However, a large body of research shows that the absence of fire can lead to dense and overstocked stands that are at increased risk for extreme fire events. Research also shows that burns provide habitat for some of our most valued and rare wildlife species. In his talk, Kozma will review this body of knowledge, considering both past and current research, with an emphasis on how prescribed burns on the nearby Naches Ranger District are providing habitat for many of these species.

For more information: 509.574.4869.

Contacts:

Jay Frank / 509.574.6870 / jfrank@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu