Important changes have occured for this event as of mid-August. Please read details below.

Register today! 

Credit: Samuel H Austin, USGS. Public domain.

September 10, 2021 (now one day only)
9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. ET

Location: WVU Natural Resources Center
1397 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525

5 Cat 1 SAF Continuing Education Credits

If you previously booked lodging when this was planned as a two-day event, consider whether you still need your reservation.

Agenda for download

Background: The Central Appalachian ecoregion spans the Appalachian, Allegheny, and Blue Ridge mountain ranges in northwestern North Carolina to southern Pennsylvania. This ecoregion consists of many geologic variations, contains the largest drainage divide in the eastern US between the Atlantic Slope and Mississippi Valley rivers, and  consists of FSC-identified Critical Biodiversity Areas. This region is characterized by several different forest types, as species composition varies with geology and/or elevation. One forest type of special interest is mesophytic coves. Mesophytic cove forests are highly diverse hardwood forests in the Appalachian region that occur on sheltered, low- to mid-elevation valleys and ravines. While mesophytic cove forests are not particularly rare, sites that exhibit later successional characteristics and still retain a dense canopy and high overstory and understory species diversity are quite rare. In the last two centuries over 95 percent of this forest type has been converted or degraded to some degree.

Event: Join us for one day of information exchange and outdoor learning as we delve into the ecology and silviculture of mesophytic coves, how to identify them, and opportunities for enhancement of these sites through responsible forest management. Responsible forest management techniques include identifying hydrologic impacts of operations, managing invasive plants, and emulating natural disturbance regimes in harvesting techniques.

Logistics

Please bring:

• footwear that can get muddy,
• insect repellent (optional)
• Sunscreen (optional)

Lunch provided

Sites: One field site, listed in the agenda. The trail is less than 2 miles.

Covid considerations: Unfortunately, we are still amid a global pandemic. Fortunately, much of this event is being held outdoors. The recent climb in case counts has led to some fresh public health guidance.  For this event, regardless of vaccination status:

• Masks must be worn when we are in shared, enclosed spaces, including classrooms and vehicles.
• Windows in classrooms and on vehicles must be cracked or fully opened to allow for the flow of fresh air.

We ask you to respect these safety measures for the benefit of yourself, your fellow participants, and our families, which include loved ones who may be immunocompromised or children who are too young to receive the vaccine.