Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission

January 26, 2016 - John McCabe                                  Register Here

Director of the Department of Resource Management for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County

McCabe's  presentation entitled “Fire and the Forest Preserves of Cook County”, will discuss some of the history behind prescribed fire and fire in general at the forest preserves.  The presentation will focus on prescribed burning in the urban environment and how the Preserve applies this critical management tool safely and effectively across our holdings.

Residents of Prospect Heights will find John's talk particularly informative, useful and comforting as the Prospect Heights Natural Resources Commission hopes to have a prescribed burn of the Slough in the spring or fall of 2016.

John has worked in several positions for the Forest Preserves since May of 1990 when he was employed as a Student Forester while completing his degree in Forestry at Michigan Technological University.  Since then he has worked as a Woodsman, Forester, Resource Manager, Training and Safety Coordinator, and Deputy Director. During his time at the Forest Preserves he has dramatically improved training in prescribed burning and the effective and safe use of chainsaws and other mechanical tools.  John coordinates spring and fall burn seasons and supervises the department’s resource management, trails, wildlife, ecology, project management, conservation corps and fisheries divisions. He has participated in almost 500 fires in his twenty plus years working for the District.

John is recognized as an expert in conducting prescribed burns in the urban environment and is a lead instructor for the Chicago Wilderness Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member training course.   He expertly coordinates projects and communicates with volunteers, partner organizations, contractors and interns to ensure thoughtful and effective habitat management.  He is also responsible for managing the recently released Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan which proposes concrete solutions to set the Forest Preserves’ land management direction for the next 25 years.

Photo by Joe Occhiuzzo

Photo by Joe Occhiuzzo

Photo by Joe Occhiuzzo