June 17 2020

Dr. Ralph Nyland, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus – Silviculture

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Control or Consequence: The Plague of American Beech

American beech has historically grown in the understory of northern hardwood forests. Early experiments showed that unless controlled prior to cutting in the overstory, understory beech would interfere with regeneration and development of other species, and come to dominate the smaller size classes. Protracted browsing by white-tailed deer exacerbated the problem in some areas. Further, as Beech Bark Disease spread across the region, the prevalence and density of understory beech root suckers increased, as has their interference with tree seedlings and herbs. As a consequence, ecosystems have become vegetatively less complex. Both herbicide applications and cutting can reduce understory beech interference, facilitating seedling establishment of other species. But new root suckers emerge from residual beech of mid- and upper-canopy positions, and these in turn limit survival and development of non-beech species that may initially become established. Lasting control has depended on complete removal of beech. Otherwise, new understory root suckers develop in the stands, and these eventually come to dominate the stand.

Noon

https://youtu.be/11TTog0Lgb4

A Restoration Strategy for Future New York Woodlands

For more than 20 years people who own and work in northeastern woodlands have struggled to overcome the impacts of deer and interfering vegetation have on their efforts to regenerate hardwood species in adequate density. A feasible solution is essential to ensure diversity and desirable regeneration when harvested and maturing forests are replaced. The interest and activity is widespread, ranging from decades of USFS and academic research, the Restore NY Woodland partnership formed by the NY Forest Owners, and regeneration as a central theme of Cornell’s ForestConnect extension and applied research program. In 2017, Cornell Cooperative Extension developed a novel and innovative approach known as “slash walls” to address the two greatest barriers to successful forest regeneration: deer impacts and competing vegetation.  This strategy has since been utilized successfully on over 400 acres at Cornell’s Arnot Teaching and Research Forest.  The webinar will focus on slash wall costs, construction methods, effectiveness, suitable applications, benefits, outcomes, and if/how to use on your property or property that you manage.

Noon

https://youtu.be/uMPQ8FYLBzg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPQ8FYLBzg

April 15, 2020

Jeni Wightman, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University

Forest Ecosystem Services – valuing all the benefits from forests

Healthy forest ecosystems provide many goods and services in addition to traditional wood products. They provide large areas of water filtration contributing to our clean drinking water reservoirs. They are an incredible carbon sink (in harvested and non-harvested wood stock and in soils) helping to regulate climate. They provide space for diverse wildlife, hiking, and hunting, among other things. However, generally, only the wood products are actively monetized. Identifying the combined ecosystem services is an attempt to value all the economic and social benefits that healthy ecosystem provides. Understanding the myriad of goods and services that forests provide the public may help promote conservation and good decision making by public and private landowners.

March 18, 2020

Peter Smallidge, Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources

Best Practices on a Small Wooded Acreage.

Many woodland owners have parcels that are “small” compared to other owners. These parcels are endearing to the owners, and provide many opportunities for activities to ensure they remain healthy and support the owner’s interests. The activities and management needs of these owners are often distinct from those of larger-sized parcels. Owners and managers of smaller parcels can use a variety of strategies to accomplish their goals. This presentation will cover several simple and basic actions that owners can take to be active in the woods and enjoy the land to its fullest extent.

February 19, 2020

Dr. Sheldon Owen, Wildlife Specialist, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University.

Habitat needs and management for the Monarch Butterfly

The monarch butterfly is one of the most iconic species in North America, and its annual migration cycle is one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in the world. However, during the past 20 years, the monarch butterfly population has declined by nearly 90% throughout much of its range. The primary factors in this decline are the losses of critical breeding habitat in North America and overwintering habitat in Mexico.  Monarch conservation success will only be achieved with an “all hands on deck” approach.  During this webinar we will discuss monarch biology, current population trends, and natural resource management actions that everyone can take to save this iconic species.

January 15, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey Ward, Chief Scientist, Department of Forestry & Horticulture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Deer, Canopy Cover and Regeneration

The regeneration of desirable plants in forests is important for the continued services those forests provide to society. Separately or in combination, overabundant white-tail deer and understories dominated by invasive shrubs and other interfering vegetation have been linked to regeneration failures throughout eastern forests.

This webinar will begin by examining the interaction of deer browsing and invasive shrubs on the composition and structure of woody regeneration and native plant communities.  We have found that in areas with invasive shrub thickets, both deer and the invasive species must be controlled.  A second study found that for properties where the management goal is to create dense habitat with high species diversity, managers should both encourage hunting to reduce pressure on browse sensitive species and leave as few post-harvest residual trees as possible to maximize growing space for regeneration.  Presented by Dr. Jeffrey Ward, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. http://www.ct.gov/caes/Jeffrey_Ward 

November 20, 2019

Dr. Jennifer Koch, USFS

Development of Host Tree Resistance to Restore Landscapes Impacted by Invasive Insects & Diseases

Options for restoring forests degraded by invasive insects and diseases will be examined in the context of the goals of the forest manager, which may vary from restoration of ecosystem services to restoring the forest to its pre-invasion state. The value of genetics and the development of resistance breeding programs as a critical tool for restoration and maintaining healthy, resilient forests will be discussed with a focus on ongoing programs breeding for beech bark disease resistance in American beech and emerald ash borer resistance in North American ash species.

Registration is effective for either time and from any computer. You must register and login to the live webinar to receive CEU credits.

Bio Sketch: Jennifer Koch is a Research Biologist with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station in Delaware, OH.  She has both a M.S. and Ph.D in Molecular Genetics from the Ohio State University.  Her research is focused on the genetics of forest tree resistance to invasive insects and pathogens, developing methods to identify, propagate, and breed resistant trees.  She has successfully developed and implemented a participatory, multi-agency breeding program for beech bark disease resistant American beech trees and her work is currently also focused on identifying and breeding for emerald ash borer resistance in ash.

October 16, 2019

Tim Weigle, Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYS IPM Program

Spotted Lantern Fly 

This invasive pest affects horticultural and agricultural crops, ornamentals, landscape, forests, and shade trees. Every resident of New York and neighboring states could potentially be affected if Spotted Lanternfly becomes established.  Growers, Landscapers, Greenhouse and Nursery Operations, Christmas Tree Growers, Foresters, Master Gardeners, Master Forester Owners and Residents are just some of the groups who will benefit from attending this meeting.

September 18, 2019

Dr. Shorna Allred, Cornell University and Kristina Ferrare, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County

Their Land, Their Legacy: A Webinar on Legacy Planning to Keep Forests as Forests

Few challenges faced by landowners are more important than the issue of passing their land and its responsibilities on to the next generation. Many landowners want to conserve their woods but don’t know about conservation options and how to involve family members in the future ownership and operation of their lands. Dr. Shorna Allred, Associate Professor at Cornell University, and Kristina Ferrare, CCE Onondaga’s Forestry Program Specialist, will help participants by connecting them with Legacy Outreach Resources to help landowners consider the future of their forests.

There are a number of ways that professionals can help landowners. Foresters, loggers, land trust staff, and other professionals, may talk to clients about the importance of planning for the future of their land to ensure that their stewardship activities reach their full potential. Conservation organizations, may be interested in hosting an outreach event that encourages landowners to learn about their conservation-based estate planning options. Whatever the professional role, there is an opportunity to inform these decisions.

In this webinar, professionals who work with landowners will learn about landowner decision options relating to the future of their land and to better inform them with effective and award-winning outreach resources. In addition, participants can develop and deliver their own effective conservation-based estate planning programs, applicable to the northeast region, using our publications: Protecting Your Legacy and Their Land, Their Legacy.  These publications and others are available on yourlegacyny.org.  

July 17, 2019

Dave Jackson. Penn State University. Cooperative Extension

Identifying and Controlling Invasive Plants on Forestland

This presentation covers the impacts of invasive plants and the characteristics which make them so successful. Common invasive plant species are described for identification purposes. In addition, the presentation will discuss distribution, site preferences, dispersal methods, and control measures for each plant. The key principles for controlling grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees will be examined as each requires slightly different measures. An integrated approach to control will be provided for each with a focus on herbicides and their application.

June 19, 2019

Peter Smallidge, Cornell University

ForestConnect Webinar

May 15, 2019

Dave Apsley, Ohio State University Extension

Is it time to harvest your timber – How do you know?

There are many factors that should you should consider when deciding if your timber is ready to harvest.  Unfortunately many woodland owners hastily make that decision when a prospective buyer knocks on their door.  This webinar will focus mainly on the financial considerations of harvesting timber, but we’ll also explore the role of landowner objectives, invasive species, regeneration and other factors to contemplate before deciding to harvest your timber.  We’ll wrap things up with a brief review of how to successfully conduct a timber harvest.

ForestConnect Special Webinar

April 30, 2019

12:00PM – 2PM

Jason Drobnack, NYS DEC

Review and Discussion of 480a Forest Tax Law and Options for Regulatory Reform in New York

The Forest Tax Law (RPTL 480a) was enacted in 1974 to provide tax abatement to forest landowners with 50 acre or more of eligible forest land. During this webinar, the NYS DEC is asking for input and suggestions from interested stakeholders on how the program can be improved through regulatory reform. The purpose of Forest Tax Law regulatory reform is to increase landowner compliance, reduce administrative burdens and improve forestry outcomes. During the webinar, DEC staff will outline how the law works, what the current status of the program is statewide, and present the suggestions that have been received from stakeholders so far. The webinar is open to the public and intended for woodland owners, 480a participants, and foresters.

April 17, 2019

Dr. Anthony W. D’Amato, Forestry Program, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont and Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

Building on the basics: managing forests for uncertain future conditions

A wide range of stressors and disturbances, such as invasive insects and diseases and extreme precipitation events, have increased the uncertainty around how to best manage forests to sustain their structure and functioning into the future. Although many novel conditions now exist in our forests, numerous historic and recent forest management approaches still have great utility in addressing these changing conditions. This webinar will present several examples of how past management approaches are being repurposed as adaptive management strategies to address the impacts of increasing drought, invasive insects, and other expected future changes to environmental conditions and disturbance regimes. Specific examples will include the use of thinning regimes to reduce drought impacts and ecological forestry approaches to address emerald ash borer and climate change impacts on northeastern forests.

March 20, 2019

Dr. Bernd Blossey, Cornell University

Setting the stage for a brighter future: creating thriving woodlands

Forests are under threat by a multitude of different stressors, including climate change, invasive species, high deer populations, pollution, fragmentation and direct loss.  Disentangling and then appropriately managing threats to local biodiversity requires landowners and forest managers to recognize whether local actions can deliver appropriate outcomes, even in the face of global or regional threats.  Despite these threats, there is hope because we have accumulating evidence that many declining or even rare species, can thrive in even comparatively young (50-150 year old) forests despite fundamentally altered biotic communities and abiotic conditions.  This presentation will focus on species of conservation interests and outline the different local actions and showcase how short- (5-15 years), mid- (20-50 years) and long-term goals can be pursued in protecting and enhancing your woodlands.

February 20, 2019

Dr. David McGill, West Virginia University

Look beyond the leaves: an introduction to tree identification

This webinar is intended to help people look at and identify woody plants.  Many of us are familiar with certain tree leaves, but leaves are helpful in identifying trees but only when they are accessible.  The intent in this program is to highlight attributes that woody plants have that can be used with diagnostic keys and samples or in the field to distinguish one species from another.  The webinar will cover what might be considered comparable to the first lecture a classroom full of forestry students might get in their course on dendrology (the study of trees).

February 13, 2019

Kristina Ferrare,  CCE Onondaga

Gregg Sargis, The Nature Conservancy

Peter Smallidge, Cornell University

Preparing Your Woods for More Frequent Disturbance

As extreme weather and pest outbreaks become more common, do you wonder if your woodlot is in a strong position to recover and thrive? This workshop will discuss the Keep Forests Healthy assessment and scorecard tool, developed by CCE Onondaga, The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This tool enables landowners to assess how their forest may be affected by changing climate conditions, and can help identify potential risks and highlight management options that may increase the ability of a forest to cope with the pressure of changing conditions. Kristina Ferrare from CCE Onondaga will review the tool and how it could help private woodlot owners. Learn more about the tool and download a copy here. (This is a link to https://www.forestadaptation.org/NY-c…) After reviewing the assessment and scorecard, Gregg Sargis of The Nature Conservancy will look at the recently completed Tug Hill Project through the lens of the report scorecard. Peter Smallidge, State Extension Forester in New York, will discuss the challenges of forest vegetation management on the site. TNC used both tried and true and new techniques to make their Tug Hill property more resilient. Learn about the history of Tug Hill forests and TNC’s goal to guide them toward increased species diversity and structural complexity using familiar forestry practices. CEUs have been requested.

January 16, 2019

Dr. Jennifer Koch, USFS

host tree/landscape restoration

canceled – government shutdown

December 19, 2018

Dave Jackson, Penn State University Cooperative Extension

Using Herbicides to Manage Vegetation in Hardwood Forestry

Forestry labeled herbicides are a low risk, economical, and effective means of controlling undesirable vegetation in hardwood forest management.  They can be used are used for achieving many objectives including: establishing desirable regeneration, increasing tree growth and timber production, creating and enhancing wildlife habitat, and controlling non-native/invasive plants.  This training will highlight forestry herbicide application methods, products, and treatment guidelines for controlling competing and invasive vegetation.

https://youtu.be/2aFFk5r8olU

November 14, 2018 Dr. Kevin Dodds, Forest Entomologist, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Durham, NH

Title: The Arrival of Southern Pine Beetle in New York: Implications for Pitch Pine Barrens Conservation and Management

Southern pine beetle has expanded its range into New York and is already causing large-scale tree losses in the Central Pine Barrens of Long Island.  This beetle is aggressive and can quickly kill large numbers of trees in over a single growing season.  Southern pine beetle does particularly well in stands that are unmanaged and overstocked, conditions common in the Central Pine Barrens.  Management techniques have been developed in the southeastern U.S. where the beetle has a long history as an economic pest and are being applied on Long Island.  Suppression methods, such as cut-and-leave and cut-and-remove are used on active infestations, while preventative silvicultural treatments can be used to reduce the susceptibility of stands to SPB.  Details on these management techniques, as well as SPB biology, impacted forests and current approach to confronting the beetle in New York and the northeastern U.S. will be discussed during this webinar.

October 17, 2018

Dr. Ralph Nyland, SUNY ESF

The Inverse Illusion: A Two-Sided Story of Tree Ages

Among their most critical decisions, foresters must judge the age arrangement in a stand, and then decide what silviculture to apply. Basing those choices on the diameter distribution alone may lead to treatments that do not sustain the values of interest or capitalize on the productive capacity of a site. In fact, research clearly tells us not to believe the old adage that even-age stands have bell-shaped diameter distributions, Instead, mid-aged and older even-aged northern hardwoods generally have a distribution that looks more reverse-J in shape. Among these stands, taking out the larger/older trees and leaving the smaller/older ones will result in unexpected responses due to major difference in the diameter growth patterns between trees in even- vs. uneven-aged stands. That of the small trees in uneven-aged stands generally increases following release by selection system or other partial cutting. In single-cohort communities, small trees grow poorly, even after release by thinning or other cutting strategies. This has serious implications for cuttings that remove all or most of the large trees from even-aged stands, leaving the small ones to sustain production and stand development. It does not have such serious long-term consequences among uneven-aged communities.