Forest Stewards Guild

Northwest Forest Plan: An Update
2024-07-11 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register for this webinar
July 11, 2024
Noon – 1:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT / 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET
Susan Jane Brown, Principal of Silvix Resources and co-chair of the federal advisory committee, will provide an update on the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment. The NW Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in northwestern California, western Oregon, and Washington. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region. After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan is being updated to accommodate changed ecological and social conditions. Learn the latest in this webinar.

Pacific Northwest Guild Gathering – Hardwood Management in Western Oregon
2024-07-31 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Register
Note the meeting location change:
Meet at Zena Forest Products, 4550 Oak Grove Rd, Salem, OR 97371
Event agenda for download
Secure your spot today for a day of learning, networking, and forest stewardship. Join us in an exploration of hardwood management in the Pacific Northwest. This event will be a combination of engaging discussions and a field tour with Zena Forest Products. We’ll be exploring topics such as oak management and restoration, ash management, emerald ash borer, and alder management. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your understanding of hardwood silviculture in the majestic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest region!
Lunch will be provided at 1:00 p.m. Optional happy hour to follow (buy your own) at Gilgamesh Brewing
Continuing Education Credits are approved: 5.5 SAF and 3 Wildlife Society
Please bring:

Water bottle
Sturdy footwear
Long pants and long sleeves – we will be walking through areas that potentially contain poison oak
Sunscreen
Insect repellent

Logistics:

We will walk 1 – 2 miles on rocked roads. Poison oak is present, so leaving the roads is optional.
Please be prepared to carpool from our meeting location to the field tour in the afternoon (this is a short drive).

Lodging: If you need lodging in the area before or after this event, two options are below. This is not included in your event registration.

Dallas: Best Western Dallas Inn & Suites | Hotel Rooms
Salem: Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn

Irregular Shelterwood Silviculture for Carbon Storage and Climate Adaptation
2024-08-02 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register (40 participant limit)
Friday, August 2, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Log landing off North Road in Sebec, Maine*
*GPS coordinates and directions will be sent to registered participants
Event flyer for download
Join hosts and Guild members Bob Seymour (University of Maine Professor Emeritus) and Ali Kosiba (University of Vermont Assistant Professor) for a day-long, intensive field discussion of how emerging concerns about carbon and climate can influence ecological silvicultural systems. We will visit the stands discussed by Kosiba and Seymour in their Northeast Silviculture Institute for Foresters’ presentation (video) about management options for forest carbon, along with other stands treated with various irregular shelterwood prescriptions in 2017. Wicopy Woods, a Guild Model Forest in Sebec Maine, has been managed by Guild members since 1968 and has twice been named Maine’s Outstanding Tree Farm in 1983 and 2020. This tour is designed for a forester audience. Continuing education credits are pending.
Logistics:

Meet at the log landing off the North Road at 8:30 a.m. for refreshments. GPS coordinates and directions will be sent to registered participants. Tour will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end by 3:00 p.m. Bring a lunch, water, and bug repellent for a full day in the woods. After the tour, we will gather at Bissell Three Rivers Brewery, arguably Maine’s best brewery, in nearby Milo (6 miles away).
For more information: (207) 944-9534 or rseymour@maine.edu

Lake States Guild Gathering - Old-Growth, Birds, and More!
2024-08-28 09:00 - 2024-08-29 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Register here (includes Wednesday meals and Thursday breakfast)
$60 for Guild members, $75 non-members, $30 for students
This event will be nearly all field tours, with minimal classroom lectures, so bring your boots and sunscreen! (and bug spray).
Location: We are basing the lodging, social time, dinner, and carpooling from the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Kemp Natural Resources Station (9161 Kemp Rd, Woodruff, WI 54568). The field tours will occur at UW-Stevens Point’s Treehaven Campus (Aug 28) and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (Aug 29). Depending on where you are traveling from you may:
Meet by 8:00 a.m. on Aug 28 at: Kemp Natural Resources Station
9161 Kemp Rd, Woodruff, WI 54568 (then carpool to and from Treehaven)
Or
Meet by 9:00 a.m. on Aug 28 at: UW-Stevens Point Treehaven
W2540 Pickerel Creek Road, Tomahawk WI 54487 (then commute to Kemp)
Event agenda for download
Event summary
The Forest Stewards Guild is hosting our Lake States Guild Gathering at the University of Wisconsin’s Kemp Station in Wisconsin’s beautiful north woods. We will discuss several topics related to silviculture and forest stewardship. Main themes include a focus on Forestry for Wisconsin Birds and a field tour to review the first 15+ years of the Managed Old Growth Silviculture Study site on the 29th.
This Guild e-newsletter article is related to old growth topics and information we’ll dig into at this gathering!
Accessibility
This event is not suitable for anyone with restricted mobility for standing, driving/riding 45 minutes at a time, or hiking.
Lodging opportunities
On site: We will have the historic Kemp Lodge and a total of 27 single beds in 7 rooms. If you’d like to reserve a single bed in a shared room on site, you may specify which night(s) and pay for lodging with your event registration. First come, first served.
Off site hotels: If you would like private lodging, there is a wide variety of hotels in and around Minocqua. This is peak tourism season and availability may be limited.
Camping: There are State Forest campgrounds in the vicinity. Clear Lake and Indian Mounds are the closest to Kemp Station (http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/StateForests/nhal/camping.html).
Meals
Event attendee registration covers Wednesday coffee and cookies, lunch, dinner, and a light breakfast on Thursday. We added a ‘dinner guest’ option if you have someone traveling with you and enjoying Northwoods camping, fishing, sightseeing, etcetera during the meeting but would like to join for dinner on Wednesday.
Continuing Education Credits

WI DNR Cooperating Forester: 5.5 continuing education hours for day 1, and 3.5 hours for day 2.
The Wildlife Society: 4 credits for the full event
Society of American Foresters: 6 credits for day 1 and 3 credits for day 2.

Northeast Forest Farming Conference
2024-09-06 18:00 - 2024-09-08 12:00 (America/New_York)
Register
September 6, 2024 @ 6:00 p.m. – September 8, 2024 @ 12:00 Noon ET
Come for the whole three days or just join for the field day sessions on the 7th. CEUs will be offered for a number of the field sessions.
Smokey House Center, 426 Danby Mountain Rd, Danby, VT 05739, USA
Join us for our inaugural Northeast Forest Farming Conference this summer! This will be a weekend chock-full of opportunities to learn about all aspects of forest farming. Topics will include forest botanical plant ecology, site selection, production and stewardship models, medicinal uses, business planning, propagation techniques, and so much more. We’ll have a wonderful line up of experienced folks hosting field-based and indoor workshops across Smokey House’s 5,000 acre mosaic of forest and farmland. There’ll be good food, live music, and so much more to enjoy. Come learn, share your knowledge, and meet the diverse group of people working to grow opportunities around forest farming and forest botanical plants in the region!

Forestry Landowner Summit
2024-09-07 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Register ($25)
Kanuga
130 Kanuga Chapel Dr
Hendersonville, NC 28739
Full event details are available on the NC State Extension webpage
Gain essential knowledge on a variety of forestry and wildlife topics that you can apply to your forest. Learn about current issues impacting our forests and practices you can implement to improve and keep your forest for generations. Choose from a wide selection of topics including forest farming, basic forestry terms, wildlife, forest succession, and private land recreation.
If you own forested property or are interested in forest ownership in the mountains of North Carolina, this workshop will provide you with essential knowledge on a variety of forestry and wildlife topics that you can apply to your forest.
You will learn about current issues impacting our forests and practices you can implement to improve and keep your forest for generations. You can choose from a wide selection of topics including forest farming, basic forestry terms, wildlife, forest succession, and private land recreation. This workshop is offered in partnership with NC State Extension Forestry, NC Forest Service, NC Tree Farm Program, and NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Topics you can choose from include the following:

Topic 1: Accessing your acreage through an improved road and trail system
Topic 2: Forestry 101: how to get started in forestry
Topic 3: Forest Farming
Topic 4: Land retention and estate planning
Topic 5: Prescribed fire and connecting to your local Prescribed Burning Association (PBA)

Boreal Forest Birds and Climate Change - webinar
2024-09-12 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Register
Thursday, September 12, 2024
10:00 a.m. CT
This Northern Forest Birds Network webinar features Janelle Taylor, PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin Madison from the Zuckerberg Lab.
This webinar will feature Janelle’s research on declining boreal bird species and winter climate refugia in Northern Wisconsin!

School of Forest Resources Book Reading by author Guild Member in Maine
2024-09-20 15:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York)
3:00 p.m. ET: Coe Room of the Memorial Union at the University of Maine Orono
4:30 p.m. ET: informal Meet-the-Author event at the Orono Brewing Company
Parking pass
Come meet Ethan Tapper, forester and Forest Stewards Guild member, at the University of Maine-Orono, as he reads from his new book: How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World. How to Love a Forest is a “reimagining of forests and what it means to care for them,” that has been endorsed by environmental authors such as Doug Tallamy, Ben Goldfarb, Bill McKibben, Tom Wessels and others. At this event, Ethan will read from How to Love a Forest, discuss what inspired the book, answer questions, and sign books.
Ethan Tapper is a forester, author, birder, naturalist and digital creator from Vermont, recognized as a thought-leader and a disruptor in the conservation community of the northeastern United States and beyond. Among other awards and distinctions, Ethan has been named the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance’s Forester of the Year and the American Tree Farm System’s National Tree Farm Inspector of the Year. Ethan is a regular contributor to Northern Woodlands magazine and a variety of other publications, and is a digital creator with tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok (all under the handle @HowToLoveAForest). Learn more about Ethan and his work at EthanTapper.com.
A full line-up of Ethan’s Maine book tour is outlined here!

Loving the Land Through Working Forests
2024-09-21 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Registration coming soon
September 21, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Location announced soon
Full event details page
This field conference hosted every year by Guild partners at the Foundation for Sustainable Forests is all about forests – threats, management practices, and ways that we can enhance their resilience and overall health. The day will be full of field-based presentations and walks on critical and emerging topics related to forest stewardship and conservation. Pre-registration is required and all are welcome! See the full event page for the conference program and speaker line-up, with new information added regularly as speakers are confirmed!

Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) Kick Off Webinar
2024-10-02 09:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Webinar Recording
October 2, 2024
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. ET
Event flyer for download
Agenda
You’re invited to register for the Forest Stewards Guild’s Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) kick-off webinar event! Join the launch of our network to promote a collaborative approach to ash preservation in the Northeast, with a morning of learning and dialogue with experts across Tribal Nations, academic, governmental, and private organizations.
The preservation of ash in the face of emerald ash borer (EAB) is a growing concern. Contributing to this forest health challenge, it is often increasingly difficult to work across boundaries and respond at the scales needed to develop lasting solutions. To address this need, SAP-Ne supports a regional response to EAB through education, outreach, and engagement with diverse forest stewards across the Northeast (i.e., Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts) by encouraging landscape level actions to sustain ash, sharing stories of hope, and amplifying the cultural significance of ash among Indigenous peoples.
Our first kick-off webinar will:

Announce our multi-year network goals;
Explore western scientific and Indigenous perspectives on ash stewardship;
Share experiences to inspire and engage forest stewards in ash preservation;
Identify gaps in regional training and resources which SAP-Ne will aim to fill; and
Serve as a call to action to address the ecological, social, and cultural impacts of EAB.

Our speaker lineup includes:

Anthony D’Amato, Professor and Forestry Program Director, University of Vermont
Richard Silliboy, Basketmaker and Vice Chief, Mi’kmaq Nation
Caitlin Cusack, Forester, Vermont Land Trust
Les Benedict, Environment Division Assistant Director, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

Following the plenary talks, attendees will be invited to participate in breakout sessions, led by program partners from their associated state (i.e., ME, NH, VT, NY, MA), where participants will have the opportunity to share their concerns, lessons learned, and resources/training opportunities and/or needs.
Are you interested in learning more about stewarding ash across the landscape? Then sign up for this event today!
This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Ed Credit.
Our network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.

Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit 2024
2024-10-03 14:00 - 2024-10-05 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Registration is closed.
Theme – Forest Horizons: Honoring the Past, Understanding the Present, Securing the Future
Location: Camp Jonah, 31 Little Mountain Rd, Trout Lake, WA
Map of Day 2 tour stops
Draft agenda for download
Full event website
The Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit (NIFS) is a space for regional learning, knowledge exchange, and ongoing cooperation to foster ecologically-based forest management strategies with programs focusing on sustainable, forest-related innovation – past, present, and future.
Forests have been essential resources, sustaining communities and economies amidst change. Understanding our past is vital for shaping the future of forest management. The 2024 Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit (NIFS) in Trout Lake, WA, delves into this journey, by looking at the past, present, and future of forest management in this unique area. Nestled within the White Salmon and Klickitat watersheds, this region, framed by Mount Adams (“Pahto”) to the north and the Columbia River Gorge to the south, has a rich legacy of stewardship by Native People. This summit explores sustainable stewardship practices that marry innovation with tradition, from pre-settlement stewardship to modern collaboration among interested parties, including federal, state, tribal, and local entities.
We will explore the past, present, and future of forest management in this unique area throughout the summit. During Day 1, we will look to the past with presentations on Native History and Use, Early Settlement and Use, and Current Ownership and Management. For Day 2 of the summit, we will be going on an extensive field tour to explore current forest management taking place in the area. This will include stops at the Mt. Adams Community Forest and the South Gifford Pinchot Collaborative Group. Additionally, we will also be making stops to explore examples of cross-boundary management between USFS & Mt. Adams Resource Stewards and management between USFS and WA-DNR through the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). Day 3 will be focused on reflection and visioning for the future, led by Dr. Cristina Eisenberg and Dr. Klaus Puettmann.

NIFS 2022 attendees gathered each night by campfire to keep the “spark” alive after sessions.
Lodging Opportunities
On-site: We have the unique opportunity to make use of Camp Jonah’s summer camp dorm lodging. This includes multiple bunks in shared rooms. Similar to summer camp, it will be noisy, messy, and a little chaotic. If you would like to relive summer camps of youth’s past, this is a great option for you! Be sure to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and ear plugs! Additionally, if you want to get the feel of attending summer camp, without staying in shared rooms, there is space available to bring a tent or RV and sleep on the property. There is no additional cost to make use of either of these lodging opportunities. RV space is limited, please contact rhiley@forestguild.org or chanda@forestguild.org to inquire about RV space.
Off-site Hotels:
Trout Lake

Trout Lake Valley Inn (1 mile from Summit location)
Trout Lake Cozy Cabins (1.1 miles from Summit location)

White Salmon

Inn of the White Salmon (22.4 miles from Summit location)

Hood River – There is a wide variety of hotels in and around Hood River. Note that a hotel in this location will be 24+ miles from the Summit location and a toll will need to be paid to use the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge.

Off-site Camping:
Trout Lake

Hollenbeck Park (1.1 miles from Summit location. Availability on a first come, first served basis)
Elk Meadows RV Park (3 miles from Summit location)
Trout Lake Creek Campground (8.3 miles from Summit location. Availability on a first come, first served basis)

Surrounding area

Goose Lake Campground (14 miles from Summit location. Availability on a first come, first served basis)
There are a variety of additional campgrounds in the surrounding area. Take note that many campgrounds only offer availability on a first come, first served basis.

Meals
All meals will be provided during the summit. This includes snacks upon check-in Thursday afternoon, dinner Thursday night, breakfast Friday morning, a sack lunch during the field tour Friday afternoon, dinner Friday evening, breakfast Saturday morning, and lunch before departing Saturday afternoon.
Please note that everyone will be responsible for making their own sack lunch during breakfast Friday morning. If you do not attend breakfast on Friday morning, you will not have lunch for Friday afternoon.
Please let us know what dietary restrictions you have. We will do our best to accommodate with options. Additionally, please let us know if you will not be able to attend all planned meals.
Conditions: Field tours may include longer walks on uneven or steep terrain. Sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing are recommended.
Stuff to Bring:
If you are staying off-site:

Water bottle

Sturdy closed toe shoes

Weather appropriate clothing

Sunscreen

Travel coffee/tea mug

If you are staying in Camp Jonah’s dorm lodging:

Water bottle

Sturdy closed toe shoes

Weather appropriate clothing

Sunscreen

Travel coffee/tea mug

Sleeping bag

Pillow

Ear plugs

Toiletries

Bath Towel

Shower shoes

If you are staying in a tent at Camp Jonah:

Water bottle

Sturdy closed shoes

Weather appropriate clothing

Sunscreen

Travel coffee/tea mug

Camping supplies

Sleeping bag

Pillow

Ear plugs

Toiletries

Bath Towel

Shower shoes

Policy on cancellations:

Last day to cancel registration is September 18, 2024
If a registrant cancels their own registration by Sept 18, 2024 and wants a refund for registration fees, we will issue a refund for the event’s registration/lodging amount only (less any credit card fees the registrant covered in their initial payment).
If the Guild cancels an event, we will refund registrants the full amount they paid, including any credit card fees they covered with their original registration.

Additional Notes:

*Students who need financial assistance may email rhiley@forestguild.org or chanda@forestguild.org to discuss options for support.
Upon registration you will receive a detailed email with event information. Included will be a link to an Acknowledgement of Risk form from Camp Jonah. Please link to that PDF and sign and return it to rhiley@forestguild.org, or bring it with you to the event.

Partnering Organizations:
Thanks to the NIFS team of partners for all of the collective work! They include: Forest Stewards Guild, Northwest Natural Resource Group, Intertribal Timber Council, and Oregon State University.

International Oak Symposium
2024-10-07 08:00 - 2024-10-10 19:00 (America/New_York)
Register
October 7 at 8:00 a.m. – October 10 at 7:00 p.m., 2024 (ET)
The Hilton, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
501 W Church Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA
Full event details webpage
Lodging: Reserve a room with this direct link or call (800) 774-1500 by September 15 for a group rate
The University of Tennessee’s School of Natural Resources is proud to host an International Oak Symposium in 2024 to provide a platform to exchange information and build collaborations around the best available science and technology on oak ecology and management for a global audience. Field trip(s) will be offered that showcase multi-disciplinary research of the USDA Forest Service and other partners.
The overall goal of this symposium is to cultivate and promote synergy among natural resource managers and researchers working towards practical applications to sustain or restore oak ecosystems around the world. The symposium will address the most current issues and complexities related to science-based management of oak species and forests at global, regional, and local scales. The four-day program seeks to engage a diverse audience of managers and scientists in a forum that fosters innovation in silviculture and management for sustainability of oak forests.
Our specific objectives are to provide platforms, products, and opportunities for:

technology transfer and dialogue between researchers and managers
scientific exchanges among researchers
fostering collaborations between managers and researchers
production of peer-reviewed research papers
Contribute towards professional development of students and early-career scientists

Detailed agendas will be shared as they are available:
Monday, October 7, 2024 – Plenary Session
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – Concurrent Sessions, Round Table Discussions
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Concurrent Sessions, Panel Discussions
Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Field trip (TBA)

Wisconsin SAF Annual Meeting
2024-10-16 - 2024-10-17
Register
October 16 – 17, 2024
Lake of the Torches Casino
Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin
Flyer for download
Topics will include some close to the Guild’s heart and focus, in the context of trends and projects in ecological forest management in Wisconsin. Field tour on the second day.

Beech management and control in the context of beech leaf disease
2024-10-22 09:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register
October 22, 2024
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
Varney Memorial Building
24 Veterans Highway Brooks, ME 04921
The event is free and lunch will be provided.
New England Forestry Foundation will co-host this event with the E D Bessey and Son company.
This event will include several presentations indoors and then a field visit to the managed forests of the E D Bessey and Son company in Brooks, Maine. 4WD is preferable for accessing the field sites but carpooling will be posssible. Learn about the prospects for beech health and survival under the double pressure of beech bark and beech leaf diseases, and what approaches are being researched to maintain some healthy beech in the landscape. Then we will see a decade of field experiments in working forests to diversify stands dominated by low-vigor beech towards a broader range of commercial species.
Part of the event will take place on E D Bessey and Son company lands, where we will see how they have been trying to diversify beech-dominated stands using silviculture and vegetation control. In the morning we will hear from the leading experts on beech leaf disease from the US and Maine Forest Services about current understanding of beech leaf disease dynamics, mortality and survival, and how they are experimenting with keeping a healthy component of beech in the landscape.
We think this event will be useful for foresters and landowners who want a holistic understanding of beech management: both how we can help this species survive in northeastern forests, but also how to manage for more diversity when unhealthy beech sprouts have come to dominate a stand.

Bird-Friendly Forestry in West Virginia – Natural Resource Workshop
2024-11-15 09:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Register (no charge for Guild members, $10 otherwise)
November 15, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Near Beckley, WV (exact location provided upon registration)
This event is intended for natural resources practitioners and SAF Continuing Education Credits approval is pending.
Accessibility: We will be walking on uneven ground in the woods.
Join the Forest Stewards Guild, Aurora Sustainable Lands, Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlands Network, and West Virginia NRCS to learn about forestry for birds in West Virginia.
We will learn about:

The concepts of bird-friendly forestry
How to apply management practices
Operational realities and stories of implementation in practice
How to look at a forest through the eyes of a bird
Bird identification tips and tricks

And we will be reviewing the newly published Bird Friendly Forest Management Silviculture Guide while enjoying the woods!
This event is intended for natural resources practitioners and landowners.
Agenda:
8:30 am – Check In
9:00 am – Welcome
9:30 am – Walking Tour
12:30 pm – Wrap Up

Contact Sarah: shagan@forestguild.org with questions.

Minnesota Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting
2025-01-08 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
Registration is closed
Please follow the MN Prescribed Fire Council on Facebook or our website: https://www.mnprescribedfire.org/
January 8, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Central Time
Location: 2150 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 55372
Agenda for download
Join us for Minnesota Prescribed Fire Council updates, presentations and discussions about the Minnesota and Wisconsin Certified Prescribed Burn Manager programs, and a field trip to the Hocokata Ti’s public exhibit to learn about Dakota history, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s prairie restorations, and efforts to revitalize cultural burning.
There will be a field component to this meeting. We do not anticipate any arduous hiking but it is January in Minnesota so please come prepared with appropriate clothes and footwear for short forest walks on uneven terrain.
We will not be seeking continuing education credits for this event.
Logistics:

Lunch provided courtesy of Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
We will carpool to the field tour site, about 10 minutes away from our meeting location

Please bring:

Water bottle
Warm clothes
Footwear that can get muddy or snowy

Guild Discussion on the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project
2025-01-14 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Register (open to Guild members)
Date: January 14th, 2025
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm ET
Location: Zoom (Link will be provided upon registration)
Agenda
Please join the Guild’s Northeast region and Membership and Policy Council to discuss the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project (IRP) in Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. The plan promotes an innovative approach to national forest management to enhance old forest conditions and climate-smart forestry principles, which could guide national forests across the country.
We’ll discuss the proposed project, guidelines for identifying and protecting old growth stands, and standards for promoting ecological forestry on the Telephone Gap IRP. Our speakers include:

Jamey Fidel, General Counsel & Forest and Wildlife Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
Bill Keeton, Professor, University of Vermont
Tim Duclos, Forest Program Senior Associate, Audubon Vermont

Following the talks, attendees will participate in a question-and-answer discussion with our project experts.
This Guild discussion is intended for Guild members only.

Lingering Hemlock Project (webinar)
2025-01-15 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Register (no charge)
January 15, 2025
Noon ET / 11:00 a.m. CT / 10:00 a.m. MT / 9:00 a.m. PT
90- minutes
Join Olivia Hall from The Hemlock Restoration Initiative to learn about the Lingering Hemlock Project, which aims to support resistance breeding in hemlock trees for long-term control against hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA).
This project is a subset of Tree Species in Peril, a The Nature Conservancy project to further development of pest-resistant native northeastern tree species at risk from invasive pests. It focuses specifically on locating and breeding resistant hemlock trees.
The Lingering Hemlock Project is a coalition of academic institutions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Each partner in the coalition plays a different role in the development of HWA-resistant hemlock trees, an ambitious but promising goal.
Agenda:

Introduction, Tree Species in Peril overview: ~10 minutes
Eastern Hemlock Decline overview: ~5 minutes
Lingering Hemlock project details: ~10 minutes
How to ID a Lingering Hemlock: ~15 minutes
What to do if you’re in an area that doesn’t have hemlock mortality yet?: ~15 minutes
Questions

More info:
The Lingering Hemlock Project, a subset of The Nature Conservancy’s “Tree Species in Peril,” aims to locate and selectively breed eastern and Carolina hemlocks with genetic resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). This insect is invasive in eastern North America and has already contributed to widespread hemlock mortality in much of the southeastern United States. As it continues to spread through the northeastern US, research into how to save hemlock trees is ramping up. While strategies such as chemical control are effective in the short-term, longer-term hemlock protection depends on biocontrol and selective breeding to promote hemlock woolly adelgid resistance. In this presentation, Olivia Hall from the North Carolina Hemlock Restoration Initiative will share more about how natural areas can participate in the Lingering Hemlock Project. In the southeastern US, project partners can locate and record data on hemlocks that remain healthy despite HWA infestations. In the northeastern US, project partners can establish hemlock plots and monitor their health and decline annually. By detecting hemlock trees that are more resistant to the damage caused by HWA, this project aims to identify HWA-resistant genotypes to support resistance breeding in eastern and Carolina hemlocks.

Ecological Forestry: Boots on the Ground with Alex Barrett
2025-01-16 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Register (required and free)
Jan 16, 2025
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET
North Branch Nature Center
713 Elm Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
Google map
Ecological forestry is the practice of using logging to make forests healthier. As we ask more and more of our woods, the field of ecological forestry has emerged to put forest ecosystem health first—without losing sight of other economic and resource goals. Guild member and Consulting Forester Alex Barrett of Long View Forest will provide a practitioner’s perspective on how ecological forestry works, and how it is changing how we think about managing forests—from landowner perceptions, to economics, to our society’s reliance on the products and services that forests provide. About Alex: Alex Barrett is a Forester with Long View Forest based in Hartland and Westminster, VT. There, he leads the Forest Management Division which includes 4 other foresters and 4 field technicians. He is a licensed Forester in VT, MA, and NH, and holds a Master of Forestry degree from the Yale School of the Environment. Alex is a member of the Forest Stewards Guild and the Society of American Foresters. His passion is growing, and sometimes harvesting, great trees. Read more about Alex’s work.

Building Ecosystem Resilience & Adaptive Capacity: Aspen Ecology and Management in the Southwest
2025-01-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Denver)
Register
January 22, 2025
12:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Dr. Connor Crouch will share insights from his recent paper “Building Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptive Capacity: a Systematic Review of Aspen Ecology and Management in the Southwest“

Guild Happy Hour in Santa Fe
2025-01-28 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
January 28, 2025
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT
Second Street Brewing
2920 Rufina Street
Santa Fe, NM
Kick off 2025 and the Guild’s 30th year with us at a Santa Fe Happy Hour! Connect with friends, partners, and Guild staff for drinks, nachos, and conversation. We have so much to celebrate and so much work ahead to do together. Let’s pause to connect and inspire one another.
More details soon…

Pathways to Sustain Ash Series: Why Preserve Ash Seed? (webinar)
2025-02-20 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Pathways to Sustain Ash Webinar & Field Tour Series
Webinar #1, Why Preserve Ash Seed?
Register for this first webinar in the series
February 20, 2025
10:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET
Agenda
Are you interested in learning more about stewarding ash across the landscape and getting involved in seed collection efforts? Then join the Forest Stewards Guild and partners for event one of our three-part series Pathways to Sustain Ash.
This kick-off webinar will lay the foundation for exploring the importance and prioritization of ash seed preservation. Our speakers will:

Provide a regional status update on ash and emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations in the Northeast
Teach ash ID basics (i.e., bark, bud, leaf, seed)
Explore western scientific and Indigenous perspectives on ash preservation
Share diverse values on the importance of collecting ash seeds
Answer your questions in a Q&A session with our speakers

Speakers:

Dr. Nate Siegert, Forest Entomologist, USDA Forest Service
Jessica Raspitha, Environmental Specialist, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Dr. Jill Hamilton, Associate Professor & Director, Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics, Penn State
Jeff Carstens, Horticulturist, USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Education Credit.
About the Series:
Event Series Flyer
Through two webinars and a field tour, this three-part series will explore innovative approaches and perspectives to sustaining ash through tree identification basics, seed collection, seed processing, propagation, and planting. Join us for one or all of the upcoming events (space permitting).
Webinar 1: Why Preserve Ash Seed?, February 20th, 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
Webinar 2: The How-To of Ash Seed Preservation from Collection to Propagation, March 6th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Field Tour: New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Field Tour, March 20th, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. ET
This series is organized by the Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne).
The Sustaining Ash Partners Network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.
If you have questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.

Forest management and soil carbon: ecoregional trends in the eastern U.S.
2025-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register for this webinar
February 27, 2025
Noon Eastern Time
Research Associate Professor Luke Nave (Michigan Technological University, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science) will present findings from several years of collaborative soil carbon management synthesis publications. The presentation will focus on the effects of forest harvesting and land use change in the Northeast, drawing in results and tools from other ecoregions to highlight the unique aspects of the Northeast.

Pathways to Sustain Ash Series: The How-To of Ash Seed Preservation (webinar)
2025-03-06 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Pathways to Sustain Ash Webinar & Field Tour Series
Webinar #2, The How-To of Ash Seed Preservation from Collection to Propagation
Register for this webinar
March 6th, 2025
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Agenda
Are you interested in learning more about stewarding ash across the landscape and getting involved in seed collection efforts? Then join the Forest Stewards Guild and partners for event two of our three-part series Pathways to Sustain Ash.
This webinar will delve into the ways that ash seed is harvested, processed, and stored. Our speakers will share their on-the-ground experiences and offer practical solutions to help build a community of practice around ash seed collection. Following the talks, attendees will be invited to participate in breakout sessions, led by program partners, to discuss planning for their own ash seed collection season. Our webinar will:

Provide attendees with the knowledge and resources to harvest, process, and store ash seed
Illustrate the seed collection cycle from harvesting to storing
Create a forum for community dialogue through break-out groups to discuss ash seed collection needs and goals

Speakers:

Tyler Everett, PhD Candidate, Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabankik, University of Maine
Ella McDonald, MS Student, Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabankik, University of Maine
Les Benedict, Environment Division Assistant Director, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Emily Baisden, Seed Center Director, Wild Seed Project

This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Education Credit.
About the Series:
Event Series Flyer
Through two webinars and a field tour, this three-part series will explore innovative approaches and perspectives to sustaining ash through tree identification basics, seed collection, seed processing, propagation, and planting. Join us for one or all of the upcoming events (space permitting).
Webinar 1: Why Preserve Ash Seed?, February 20th, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Webinar 2: The How-To of Ash Seed Preservation from Collection to Propagation, March 6th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Field Tour: New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Field Tour, March 20th, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
This series is organized by the Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne). The Sustaining Ash Partners Network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.
If you have questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.

Modeling forest management and wood use across seven US states (webinar)
2025-03-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register
March 7, 2025
9:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. MT / 11:00 CT / 12:00 p.m. ET
State and local governments are increasingly interested in the role forests and harvested wood products play in regional carbon sinks and storage as well as the interactions between GHG reduction goals and potential economic opportunities. We used empirically driven process-based forest carbon dynamics and harvested wood product models in a systems-based approach to project the carbon impacts of various forest management and wood utilization activities across seven US states. To quantify state-wide forest carbon dynamics, we integrated forest inventory data, harvest and management activity data, and remotely-sensed metrics of land-use change and natural forest disturbances within a participatory modeling approach. We accounted for net GHG emissions across (1) forest ecosystems (2) harvested wood products, (3) substitution benefits from wood product utilization, and (4) leakage associated with reduced in-state harvesting activities. Preliminary findings show that both strategic forest management and wood utilization can provide substantial GHG mitigation potential relative to a business-as-usual scenario and potential future climate conditions. Key forest management activities include maintaining and increasing forest extent, reducing wildfire risk and severity, fostering forest resiliency and natural regeneration, encouraging sustainable harvest practices, balancing timber supply and wood utilization with tree growth, and preparing for future climate impacts.

Preserving Ash for the Future (webinar)
2025-03-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register
March 14 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
It’s not too late!
As the Emerald Ash Borer makes its way into Vermont’s forests we have an opportunity to mitigate the loss of ash trees and help preserve ash trees for the future. Join us to learn about strategies that landowners, foresters, conservation organizations, and community leaders can employ to promote well-adapted forests that include ash in the future.
Presenters:

Dr Tony D’Amato, Professor in Silviculture & Forest Ecology, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont. Guild member, on the Guild’s Board of Directors.
Paul Catanzaro, Professor, State Extension Forester, University of Massachusetts

This event is perfect for landowners, foresters, and community forest managers. For background and as a resource afterwards, please see Managing Northeastern Forests Threatened by Emerald Ash Borer. For those interested, forester continuing education credits (1.0 CFE credit) will be available through the Society of American Foresters.

Pathways to Sustain Ash Series: New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Field Tour
2025-03-20 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Pathways to Sustain Ash Webinar & Field Tour Series
Registration is full and closed.
New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Field Tour
March 20, 2025
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location:
NH State Nursery
405 Daniel Webster Highway
Boscawen, New Hampshire 03303
Agenda
This in-person event is limited to 25 attendees, so act fast to reserve your spot! Registration is free and lunch is provided.
Are you interested in learning more about stewarding ash across the landscape and getting involved in seed collection efforts? Then join the Forest Stewards Guild and partners for event three of our three-part series Pathways to Sustain Ash.
We’re wrapping up our Pathways to Sustain Ash series with a field tour to see preservation in action at the New Hampshire (NH) State Forest Nursery.
Our field tour will:

Discuss NH’s ongoing multi-year efforts to conduct integrated pest management (i.e., insecticide, silviculture, biocontrol) to preserve mature ash and promote ash regeneration
Learn about upcoming ash enrichment plantings in NH and tour ash seedlings
Explore the innovative seed processing, propagation, and planting efforts at the NH State Forest Nursery
Network with your community over a provided lunch and casual conversation in the seed counting room

Speakers:

Billy Kunelius, NH State Forest Nursery Manager, NH State Forest Nursery
Bill Davidson, Forest Health Specialist, NH Forest Health Program, NH Division of Forests and Lands

This event is approved for 2.50 SAF Category 1 Continuing Education Credit.
About the Series:
Event Series Flyer
Through two webinars and a field tour, this three-part series will explore innovative approaches and perspectives to sustaining ash through tree identification basics, seed collection, post-collection processing, and propagation. Join us for one or all of the upcoming events (space permitting).
Webinar 1: Why Preserve Ash Seed? February 20, 2025, 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
Webinar 2: The How-To of Ash Seed Preservation from Collection to Propagation. March 6, 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Field Tour: New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Field Tour. March 20, 2025, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET
This series is organized by the Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne). The Sustaining Ash Partners Network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.

University of Alabama Guild Student Chapter Canoe Trip
2025-03-22 08:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Registration extended to March 19th!
Space is limited. Students are encouraged to register early so we can prioritize your participation.
March 22, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT.
Back up date is April 12, 2025
Park at: 201 Seventh Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Group vans will transport us to the canoe put-in.
Join UA’s chapter of the Forest Stewards Guild for a forestry-focused canoe trip along the Cahaba River! We will be discovering how managing forests affects river and stream ecosystems.
At a glance:

Beginner friendly canoe trip lead by the Cahaba River Society
Boats, paddles, and gear will be provided with registration fee
Transportation for the event to and from campus are provided

Please bring:

Water bottle,
Packed lunch,
Sunscreen,
Closed-toe footwear and clothes that can get muddy. Feet WILL get wet. No crocs, typically old sneakers work best,
Change of clothes in case you get too wet.

Guild Gathering at the New England SAF Annual Meeting 2025
2025-03-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Register (free of charge)
March 27, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Bandoleros Mexican Grill
4 Ryan’s Way, Devens, MA 01434
The Forest Stewards Guild is hosting a Guild Gathering at this year’s New England Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting. This event is part of the Guild’s 30th Anniversary event series, celebrating decades of advancing sustainable forestry and community stewardship.
Join Guild members, and conference attendees interested in becoming a Guild members, for a social evening of networking and conversation with fellow forestry professionals. This event will be held in walking distance from the conference venue. Light appetizers will be provided with additional food and drinks available for purchase.

Understanding Passive Forest Management to Further Ecological Forestry
2025-04-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
April 2, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. ET
Join us for an insightful webinar featuring Paul Catanzaro, Forest Ecology and Conservation Professor at the University of Massachusetts & Massachusetts State Extension Forester! In this session, Paul will share findings from the recently published study he co-authored: Understanding Passive Forest Management on Family Forest-Owned Land in New England to Further Ecological Forestry (Denaroso, Catanzaro, and Markowski-Lindsay, 2025). This presentation will:
Bridge Passive and Active Forest Management with Ecological Forestry Principles

Discover how passive forest management (PFM) and active forest management (AFM) are complementary components of ecological forestry, essential to sustaining the full suite of forest benefits.

Reveal How Family Forest Owners View Passive Forest Management

What proportion of Family Forest Owners (FFOs) are interested in the intentional PFM approach for some or all of their land? Unpack the key factors that guide FFOs as they navigate the choices surrounding passive forest management (PFM).

Discuss the Critical Role that Foresters Play in Passive Forest Management

Many landowners interested in PFM express their intent to work with foresters. Foresters have a crucial role in implementing PFM to complement AFM and sustain forest benefits.

Professor Catanzaro will be joined by the study’s co-author, Marla Markowski-Lindsay, Senior Research Fellow at the Family Forest Research Center, who will be available to help answer your questions during the Q&A segment at the end of the webinar.
