Cultivating Ash Resilience Across the Landscape — A Webinar and Field Walk Learning Series  

Register for the field tour

April 16th, 2026
9:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET 
Bud Leavitt WMA Route 15, Charleston, ME 04422 (coordinates will be sent to registrants)

Agenda 

Experience the concepts from our silviculture webinar—and more—brought to life in the Maine woods. During our SAP-Ne Demonstration Site Field Tour, you’ll explore on-the-ground management, monitoring, and decision-making within a pre-invasion forest at the Bud Leavitt Wildlife Management Area. SAP-Ne is proud to support the thoughtful ash management at Bud Leavitt and a growing network of demonstration sites, designed to showcase effective, hands-on techniques for stewarding ash trees and preserving future generations of ash in the face of emerald ash borer. Learn more by visiting the Sap-Ne website.  

Our Field Tour Will: 

• Introduce the approaches to preserving ash and promoting ash regeneration implemented by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (Maine IF&W)  
• Explore the ash silvicultural practices, insecticide treatments, and monitoring efforts at Budd Leavitt   
• Discuss decision-making for ash preservation practices at a site slated for future management  
• Create a casual atmosphere to network with your community over a provided lunch and casual conversation in the woods  

Speakers from Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:  

• Jack Chappen, Land Management Forester II  
• Kate Locke, Land Management Forester  
• Daniel Hill, Deer Habitat Biologist  

About the Series:  

Cultivating Ash Resilience Across the Landscape starts with an online webinar to learn silvicultural strategies and explore case studies from the Northeast, then takes us into the Maine woods for this guided field tour at the Bud Leavitt Wildlife Management Area to see ash stewardship in action. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to participate in one or both upcoming events (space is limited for our in-person tour)! Each event is approved for 1 SAF Continuing Education Credit. 

Webinar Event: The Silviculture of Ash Stewardship in the Northeast, April 2nd, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

SAP-Ne Demonstration Site Field Tour: Bud Leavitt Wildlife Management Area, April 16th, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.  Register at the link above.  

This series is organized by the Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne), a regional network that aims to amplify ongoing efforts to sustain ash by supporting landscape level stewardship, sharing stories of hope for ash preservation, and uplifting the cultural significance of ash among Indigenous peoples. The Sustaining Ash Partners Network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.  

The Silviculture of Ash Stewardship in the Northeast - SAP-Ne Webinar

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Giles at mgiles@forestguild.org.