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1 State-wide Prescribed Burn Partnership Workshop May 27, 2011 Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center 7887 U.S. Highway 87 North San Angelo, TX 76901

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Confluence of Interests 1997 - Concept of Association NRCS-Conservation Innovation Grant Proposal Submitted and Funded 2010 - Meeting with Butch Taylor, John Walker, Neal Wilkins, and Roel Lopez 1998-2009 - State leaders expand concept to other regions in the state 2010 Jim Kenton & others Re-visit the idea of an Alliance 2010 Jim Kenton & others Re-visit the idea of an Alliance May 27, 2011 - Workshop/Meeting of Association Leadership to discuss Alliance concept 2003 Mort Kothmann and others begin to form idea of an Alliance 2003 Mort Kothmann and others begin to form idea of an Alliance Association Leadership Opted to form a State-wide Alliance (Initial support will be provided by Texas AgriLife and Texas A&M Inst. of Renewable Natural Resources) Association Leadership Opted to form a State-wide Alliance (Initial support will be provided by Texas AgriLife and Texas A&M Inst. of Renewable Natural Resources) 2006 Initial meeting was held in Brownwood by EPPBA

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3 NRCS-Conservation Innovation Grant Goal: Increase prescribed fire use through a community-based alliance of burning associations, and integration of web-based technology, particularly for education and training.

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4 Texas Alliance of Prescribed Burning Associations (TAPBA) 9 out of the 11 pre-identified PBAs were represented at the San Angelo Workshop. PBA Leadership unanimously supported the idea to establish a state-wide alliance. Benefits of the alliance Unified approach to increase the use of prescribed fire & support lando wners.

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5 TAPBA Goals Promote fuel reduction and address wildfire prevention. Promote the use of safe prescribed fire practices. Fire mitigation through the use of prescribed fire to reduce the risk to residential and commercial areas. Address long-term sustainability of prescribed fire uses across the landscape.

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6 Picture rotator highlighting events. New and Events tab, archive/date stamp Alliance Header Horizontal navigation Log-in page, access to other website features Viewing and reporting of p-fire burns Adding on-screen digitizing feature. TAPBA Website http://pfire.tamu.edu http://pfire.tamu.edu

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7 Prescribed Burn Associations in Texas

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8 Current TAPBA Status (as of 10-2011) A draft Constitution has been drafted and is in the process of being finalized. PBAs have nominated members to serve on the TAPBA Steering Committee. Four Work Groups were formed to address: Alliance Structure/Organization and Alliance Constitution and/or charter Finances Education and Training Umbrella Prescribed Fire Insurance PBA Leadership will reconvene within the next two weeks to further discuss the establishment of the TAPBA.