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ESF Forest Properties Receives NWTF Grant to Support Prescribed Fire
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Jan. 13, 2026 — The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) Forest Properties team received a grant from the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to support the use of prescribed fire at the Pack Demonstration Forest in Warrensburg, N.Y. This funding will provide hands-on opportunities for ESF students to construct firebreaks this spring at the Spruce Mountain Climate Adaptation Area.
The project is designed to enhance wildlife habitat, promote regeneration of climate-adapted forests, and serve as a demonstration area for landowners and land managers. Students will gain practical experience using hand tools to build firebreaks, and the grant also supports the purchase of equipment, including a backpack leaf blower, to aid in fire line construction.
The Spruce Mountain Climate Adaptation Area will feature an interpretive trail showcasing forest management strategies aimed at increasing resiliency to future stressors. This initiative will be supported by ESF’s Student Association of Fire Ecology (SAFE) – a campus club sanctioned by the national Association of Fire Ecology (AFE). ESF’s SAFE Chapter was established early in 2025 by students with interests in fire ecology and management. Such interests have grown on campus in association with Dr. Andy Vander Yacht’s new related course and the research being conducted by his Applied Forest and Fire Ecology Laboratory.
“ESF is known for its experiential learning opportunities and this project provides an excellent example of the real world preparation our students receive at ESF. We are grateful for the partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation to make this opportunity available.”
“Partnering with NWTF gives us the resources to improve forest health while creating meaningful learning experiences for students,” said Mike Federice, Adirondack Forest properties manager, noting that constructing firebreaks is a critical skill for forest resource managers.
“Prescribed fire can be an essential tool for building resilient forests,” said Vander Yacht. “This collaboration will allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world challenges while showcasing strategies that landowners and managers can use to adapt forests to future stressors – using fire to benefit the health of plants, wildlife, ecosystems, and people.”
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.