Stewardship opportunities: Becoming an NRCS Technical Service Provider
2024-05-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Thursday, May 30, 2024
1:00 p.m. ET
Peter Hoagland- Northeast Regional TSP Coordinator, USDA-NRCS
In this webinar foresters and other natural resources professionals will learn about the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Technical Service Provider (TSP) Program. Technical Service Providers (TSPs) work on behalf of private landowners and land-managers to offer conservation planning and project implementation support services that meet the criteria of USDA NRCS programs. TSPs are certified by NRCS through a formal training process to develop planning and practice design documents, such as Forest Management Plans, to help eligible customers assess the current condition of their lands and to recommend conservation practices that meet NRCS standards and specifications.

A Forest of Your Own: The Pacific Northwest Handbook of Ecological Forestry
2024-06-03 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
Full presentation details
June 3, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Northwest Nature Shop, 154 Oak Street, Ashland, OR 97520
Seth Zukerman, co-author of A Forest of Your Own: The Pacific Northwest Handbook of Ecological Forestry, will discuss forest management and ecological forestry. From those who own forested property already to those who dream of someday having a forest to call their own and everyone in between, this presentation will explore how to “read” a forest, sustainable management, wildfire risk reduction, climate change adaptation, ways to enhance wildlife habitat, and watershed protection.
As a journalist, Seth Zuckerman reported extensively on forests, salmon, and the human communities that depend on them. He is the executive director of the Northwest Natural Resource Group and author of several books, including Saving Our Ancient Forests and Salmon Nation.
The presentation is at Northwest Nature Shop. Seating is limited so arrive early to secure a seat. There is no charge for this event.

Virtue and The Steward’s Mind - Communicating Forestry webinar series
2024-06-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Register
June 4, 2024
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Join Guild member Marianne Patinelli-Dubay, a philosopher with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, for a presentation focused on understanding Guild-style forestry in the context of virtue ethics. Following the presentation, participants will be encouraged to explore these theoretical concepts in a facilitated discussion.
A forester is trained to understand and facilitate the necessary conditions for regeneration and flourishing. Through practice and careful observation over time, your ability to recognize the natural limits of a forest stand is refined. You take an inventory and reach a conclusion about how to proceed with a harvest by inhabiting the slope and aspect of the land, reading the ground for difficulties, knowing your own limits and those of others to identify and then do the right thing.
As your steward’s mind matures, your approach becomes intuitive. Your familiarity with the land and your knowledge of what it wants in terms of optimal conditions becomes a matter of how you see more than how you see the land. Is this forestry or virtue? Is there a difference? How and when do virtue and forestry coincide? To proceed with honesty, courage, and a clear understanding of need versus desire means living in the question of what good forestry means for the way we work and live on the land.
As part of our Communicating Forestry Series, this webinar recognizes that the more we understand what motivates Guild members to do good forestry, the better we can communicate good forestry and its drivers to specific interested parties, landowners, and the general public.
Watch recordings of previous webinars in this Communicating Forestry Series, by and for Guild members on YouTube. The full list of previous sessions is in the Guild’s webinar library.

Learning to Identify Appalachian Cove Forests
2024-06-12 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register
June 12, 2024
12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Meeting at Standing Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will walk a segment of the Mountains to Sea trail near Waynesville, NC
We invite forest practitioners and others interested in forest management to a workshop about Appalachian Cove Forests with MountainTrue. This workshop is field-based and primarily focused on how to identify cove forests. We will also touch on ecological forest management and operations in cove forest sites. The workshop will be a “Walk & Talk”-style and include a 1.5-mile hike held at a segment of the Mountains to Sea trail near Waynesville, NC.
Agenda
12:00 Check in
12:15 Welcome and Introductions
12:30 Hike

What is a cove forest?
How to manage invasive species in coves
Tree and understory plant identification
Forest operations
The importance of best management practices for water quality

3:30 Return to Overlook
4:00 End of Workshop
Contact Dakota Wagner with questions: dakota AT forestguild.org

Forest Farming: A Climate Smart Practice
2024-06-13 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Register
Thursday, June 13, 2024
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Smokey House Center
426 Danby Mountain Road Danby, VT 05739
2.5 category 1 continuing forester education credits (CFE) through Society of American Foresters
Full event webpage
Join us at Smokey House Center for a field session on forest farming – a USDA-recognized agroforestry practice that involves cultivating and stewarding shade-tolerant non-timber forest products in the forest understory. Learn the fundamentals of forest farming such as site selection, species selection, and different production models while we visit different sites across Smokey House’s property. We’ll also discuss how forest farming can fit into broader forest management strategies to increase economic and ecological resilience as part of a diversified forest and farm planning.
Learning Aims: This workshop will improve your knowledge of forest farming principles and increase your familiarity with different production practices as well as providing you with a handy site assessment tool to take home. The session will also enable knowledge sharing and group inquiry about how we can meet climate mitigation and resilient goals for working forests and farms.
Who should come? Foresters, beginning and experienced forest farmers, forest and farm owners and managers, agricultural and forestry service providers including NRCS staff, Extension, and others working with climate smart practices. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this session, please contact leila.larosa@uvm.edu at least two weeks before the event so that we may assist you.
This event will include touring various forest farming sites across Smokey House’s 5,000 acre forested property and will discuss how forest farming fits into other forest management objectives.

Environmental Ethics in Running a Logging Business
2024-06-13 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Register
June 13, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Join us for a discussion with Guild member Katrina Amaral of Timberdoodle Farm to learn about logging for long-term sustainable land management while farming, what to consider for stand health and diversity, and Timberdoodle’s environmental ethic.
Timberdoodle Farm is a specialty logging & sawmill business based in Strafford, New Hampshire. Owners Miles and Katrina Amaral began custom sawmilling on a homemade chainsaw mill in 2010, operating out of their landlord’s driveway in Madbury. With backgrounds in mechanical engineering and conservation biology, Miles and Katrina found that they weren’t satisfied by commercial timber offerings – they believe in locally-sourced, ecologically responsible lumber. Timberdoodle Farm has been featured in NPR Marketplace, Fast Company, Northern Woodlands, The Northern Logger magazine, and various podcasts.
Katrina and Miles are members of NH Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA) and the Northeast Loggers Association (NELA). In addition, Katrina serves on the Board of NELA, as a member of the Forest Society’s (SPNHF) Forestry Committee, and a professional member of the Forest Stewards Guild.

COC Forestry and Conservation Seminar Series
2024-06-18 19:00 - 2024-10-01 20:00 (America/New_York)
No registration required, open to public.
All talks located at: Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Touring Center
535 Lost Nation Road, Craftsbury Common, VT, 05827
Talk #1: Understanding old forests, and what makes them unique
Occurred on May 28th. A recording will be available soon…
Speaker: Liz Thompson (Independent Ecologistand Co-author of Wetland, Woodland, Wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont). Old forests capture a special place in our imagination, and they provide important ecological functions. Join a discussion to learn more about what old forests look like (it’s not always what you expect!), why they matter, and where they are found in our state and region.
Talk #2: Understanding ongoing conservation efforts
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Bob Zaino (Natural Community Ecologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife, and Co-author of Wetland, Woodland, Wildland: A guide to the natural communities of Vermont). Learn about ongoing efforts to find, map, and conserve old forests in Vermont. Take a virtual tour of some of Vermont’s most fascinating old forests. Finally, learn about efforts to enhance old forest representation as part of broader conservation vision for Vermont.
Talk #3: Wildlife and Old Forests
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Jill Kilborn (Nongame Bird Project Leader, VT Dept. of Fish and Wildlife). Learn about wildlife and old forests in Vermont. What old forest characteristics are important for wildlife, and what species are more likely to be found in these places.
Talk #4: Management strategies to develop old forest conditions
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Guild member Anthony D’Amato (Professor and Director of UVM Forestry Program and UVM Research Forests). Learn about ecological silviculture and forest management strategies to promote old forest development. Discussion will include old forest structural characteristics and active strategies to enhance both the health of your forest as well as promote the development of old forest characteristics.
Talk #5: Ecological silviculture in action at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Guild members Rick Morrill (Northern Forest Conservation Services) and Jared Nunery (Orleans County Forester) will introduce the landscape setting of the COC trail network and discuss the local application of ecological forestry and silviculture. We will explore how practices and strategies discussed during the summer lecture series are being applied right here in Craftsbury. There’s more going on in the woods than you might realize skiing over the trail system – come learn how you might integrate some of these practices into the management of your forest.

Old-Growth Forest Stewardship: New USFS Technical Guidance
2024-06-20 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Register for this webinar
June 20, 2024
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MT / 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. CT / 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Please join Forest Stewards Guild members and colleagues for a discussion of the new US Forest Service Technical Guidance for Standardized Silvicultural Prescriptions for Managing Old-Growth Forests. This is an informal chance to share and learn together. Dr. Zander Evans will facilitate a conversation about the Technical Guidance and what can be useful for stewards of Tribal, private, and conservation lands.

Wildlife Field Day: Forestry for the Birds
2024-06-26 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Register
June 26, 2024
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Corvallis, OR (location details will be provided to attendees)
Join us for a discussion and forest tour featuring the Forest Stewards Guild’s Forestry for the Birds Western Oregon Guide (take home a copy for your $5 registration fee).
This Guide was developed to assist woodland caretakers including landowners, loggers, foresters, natural resource managers, or practitioners, to identify, assess, and support a healthy forest with birds in mind. We will review the guide while walking through various habitats and forest stages. Learn more about the focal birds within the Guide, bird habitat preferences, identifying understory plants, and forest structure and variability that make appealing habitat for different bird species.
Event agenda:
8:30 – Early birds get coffee & pastries
9:00 – Welcome & introductions
9:45 – What is Forestry for the Birds?
10:00 – Forest tour applying the Guide
12:30 – End workshop

Northeast Midwest RX Fire Science and Management Conference
2024-07-01 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Register
August 19 – 22, 2024
Hilton Albany
40 Lodge St, Albany, NY 12207
Agenda
A workshop for all wildland fire management partners across the 20 state NE-MW region to share region-wide, science-based, fire ecology information oriented toward expanding and maintaining the use of prescribed fire across all landscapes, jurisdictions, and fire-dependent ecosystems.
Workshop Objectives
This regional workshop will:

Provide a forum for all wildland fire management partners to share region-wide, science-based, fire ecology information oriented toward expanding and maintaining the use of prescribed fire across all landscapes, jurisdictions, and fire-dependent ecosystems.
Provide an opportunity for scientists, managers, and practitioners across the 20-state region to share prescribed fire related experiences, successes, and potential solutions to implementation challenges.
Provide an opportunity for agency leaders and managers to interact with state prescribed fire councils and other key partners.
Serve as a model for future annual or biennial workshops.

Pre-workshop Opportunities
We are offering two pre-workshop training sessions on Monday, August 19th. You can register for these sessions when you register for the workshop.

Smoke TOOLS Workshop: 10:00 – 5:00 pm
Fire History in the Northeast US: Understanding Long-term Fire Regime and Forest Change with Tree Rings and Fire Scars: 1:00 – 5:00 pm

Sponsored by the Northeast Regional Strategy Committee (NE RSC), a regional organization chartered by the national Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) to coordinate and support implementation of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy across the 20 Northeast and Midwest states.

Guild discussion on old-growth forest stewardship
2024-07-09 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register for this webinar
July 9, 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
Please join the Guild’s Membership and Policy Council to discuss old-growth forest stewardship. We’ll cover protection, preservation, conservation, management, and recruiting future old forests. Guild experts will discuss current federal work on old forests and opportunities for the Guild to lead on this important issue. The MPC welcomes you and your input around this facet of our work and world.

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.
