S.7 Ep.7: Beaviculture

S.7 Ep.7: Beaviculture

Author: Wisconsin Forestry Center and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources July 1, 2026 Duration: 53:53
Beavers are often seen as a nuisance, but what if they're actually some of nature's most effective forest managers? In this episode of SilviCast, we welcome renowned ecohydrologist Dr. Emily Fairfax to explore the surprising role of beavers as ecosystem engineers. Learn how beaver-created wetlands improve water storage, reduce wildfire risk, enhance biodiversity, store carbon, and influence forest management. Dr. Fairfax highlights practical strategies for addressing challenging beaver activi...

Tune into SilviCast for a grounded conversation about the woods. This podcast, a collaboration between the Wisconsin Forestry Center and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, digs into the real-world details of silviculture-that blend of science, practical skill, and thoughtful art that shapes how we care for forests. Each episode is built around the voices of people who work among the trees, from field foresters and land managers to researchers developing new approaches. You’ll hear specific discussions about contemporary management dilemmas, from adapting to changing climates to implementing cutting-edge techniques that balance ecological health with practical goals. It’s designed for the rhythm of a natural resource professional’s life, whether you need some thoughtful background while at your desk or a companion for a long drive down a gravel road. The focus remains on applicable knowledge and the shared challenges of stewardship, offering listeners a direct line to the experiences and insights shaping forestry today. By focusing on these tangible stories and solutions, this podcast serves as an ongoing resource for anyone invested in the future of our landscapes.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

SilviCast
Podcast Episodes
S.5 Ep.1: Putting the Old in Old-Growth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:59
No matter how you define it, old-growth forests are scarce as hen’s teeth in the eastern United States. More than 99% of our forests are second growth. While we can’t speed up time, we can speed up the development of old…
S.4 Ep.11: The Art of Silviculture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:48
The official Society of American Foresters' definition of silviculture describes it as both an art and science. Are foresters both artists and scientists? What role does creativity play when developing a silvicultural pr…
S.4 Ep.10: White Oak, Whiskey, and Wildlife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:27
If you're a whiskey enthusiast, you are probably aware of a lesser-known federal law that requires all bourbon (an American whiskey) to be aged in a “charred new oak container." And those containers or casks are made alm…
S.4 Ep.9: Vision of Chief Oshkosh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:01
Good silviculture is about using the best available science, along with the experience and local knowledge we accumulate in the field. What if we practiced forestry in an area for not only one lifetime, but for generatio…
S.4 Ep.8: ICO ICO a Nae [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:06
They say if you want forest heterogeneity, just get a larger group of foresters to mark the stand. While it is true that not every forester marks the same, it is often challenging if we want to intentionally create spati…
S.4 Ep.7: The Cedar Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:03
Foresters love a challenge! And one such challenge in eastern Northern America has always been northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis). A both ecologically and commercially valuable tree species that can be slow-growin…
S.4 Ep.6: Green Side Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:17
It seems that every young forester may have heard the old adage “green side up" tossed at us half-jokingly while learning to plant our first tree seedlings, almost as if to say "don't overthink this one kid." As experien…
S.4 Ep.5: The Seedling and the Flame [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:27
We all know that oak and fire go together like peanut butter and jelly. What we have been missing is the practical knowledge of where, when, and how to apply fire in oak ecosystems. There are few who have contributed mor…
S.4 Ep.4: How Now Brown Cow? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:48
Foresters have been warning landowners for years about the potentially damaging impacts of cows in their woods. So it is not surprising that we raise an eyebrow when conversations start about intentionally integrating li…
S.4 Ep.3: Syrup with Saps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:49
Business is booming if you own a commercial sugar bush! As forest managers, this means more and more of us are hearing from landowners interested in starting or maintaining a sugar bush. Unfortunately, if you are like us…