Program
Restoring the West 2026 brings together invited speakers from across academia, nonprofit organizations, and public land management agencies to foster a balanced exchange of research, practical experience, and diverse perspectives. By convening researchers, land managers, and practitioners, this two-day workshop creates opportunities to strengthen connections between scientific knowledge and on-the-ground management.
The 2026 theme, Bridging Science & Practice, highlights both the successes and challenges of translating scientific research into effective, real-world restoration and land management strategies.
Here is our schedule at a glance.
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Event | Location |
| 08:00 A.M. | Registration Desk Opens | ECC Registration |
| 08:00 A.M. | Arrival Coffee/Tea | ECC Lobby |
| 08:00 A.M. | Exhibitor Bump-in | ECC Lobby |
| 08:45 A.M. | Conference Opening and Welcome | ECC Auditorium |
| 09:00 A.M. | Day 1 Keynote | ECC Auditorium |
| 10:00 A.M. | Plenary Presentations | ECC Auditorium |
| 10:30 A.M. | Morning Break--Coffee/Tea/Light Snacks | ECC Lobby |
| 11:00 A.M. | Plenary Presenations | ECC Auditorium |
| 12:00 P.M. | Networking Lunch | ECC 201/203/205/207 |
| 1:30 P.M. | Plenary Presentations | ECC Auditorium |
| 3:00 P.M. | Afternoon Break--Coffee/Tea | ECC Lobby |
| 3:30 P.M. | Plenary Presentations | ECC Auditorium |
| 4:30 P.M. | Day 1 Wrap up and Discussion | ECC Auditorium |
| 5:00 P.M. | Poster Session and Reception--Heavy Hors d'Oeuvres | ECC 205/207/Lobby |
| 7:00 P.M. | Adjourn | |
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Event | Location |
| 08:00 A.M. | Registration Desk Opens | ECC Registration |
| 08:30 A.M. | Day 2 Keynote | ECC Auditorium |
| 09:30 A.M. | Plenary Presentations | ECC Auditorium |
| 10:30 A.M. | Morning Break--Coffee/Tea/Light Snacks | ECC Lobby |
| 11:00 A.M. | Plenary Presentations | ECC Auditorium |
| 12:00 P.M. | Conference Wrap Up/Evaluation | ECC Auditorium |
| 12:30 P.M. | Grab-and-go lunch/Optional Networking | ECC 201/203 |
| 1:00 P.M. | Adjourn | |
| 1:00 P.M. | Exhibitor Bump-out | ECC Lobby |
| 1:00 P.M. | Poster Tear-down | ECC 205/207/Lobby |
Keynotes, plenaries, and poster presentations will explore lessons learned, innovative approaches, and practical applications across a range of topics, including:
- Forest restoration
- Managing fire-prone landscapes
- Best practices for reducing fire risk
- Wildfire social science
- Management of public lands
- Rangeland management
Return to this page after September 14, 2026, to view the finalized program.