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Agroforestry workshop, Jan 15, Ithaca NY, register by Nov 21

Beyond the Forest: Seeing the Farm for the Trees

Thurs Jan 15, 2026, 9:30-4pm

Clark Building rm 700

Hosted by the Cornell Small Farms Program and the Silvopasture and Agroforestry Program Work Teams

Agroforestry practices integrate trees in farm production, and if done well, can create numerous benefits to the climate, biodiversity, soil health, and a farmer’s bottom line. The five recognized agroforestry practices have ancient and global roots, and are just starting to be scaled and appreciated in our region, despite a lack of data to guide best practices. Agroforestry entrepreneurship in the Northeast is growing quickly, as is the demand for research and technical support.

While agroforestry serves as an umbrella for several different practices, all require multidisciplinary knowledge plus curiosity and experimentation. Your name has been suggested as someone with research interests that overlap with this field of inquiry. We hope you’ll join us at this event to learn about new developments and challenges, explore potential collaborations, and brainstorm a research agenda to advance innovation in these practices. Please invite your grad students to join us too!

At the summit you can expect to hear from trailblazing producers about their successes and challenges in scaling up and about Cornell’s history of agroforestry engagement. You’ll also hear from Mike Gold, a long-time faculty member at the University of Missouri’s Center for Agroforestry, about the research and extension they’ve been doing for nearly 3 decades and its positive impacts on rural resilience in Missouri.

We’ll enjoy a free hot lunch, and the afternoon will include time for producers, faculty, and service providers to discuss research, education and networking strategies for meeting the challenges and opportunities to scale agroforestry in the Northeast.

RSVP by Fri Nov 21!

RFP for Tree Nursery Incubation Program!

This is wonderful! I’d love to help your org if you were interested in applying!

WE NEED THIS IN NYS!

The Nature Conservancy in New York: Reforestation Demonstration Nursery Incubation Program Request for Proposals (RFP)

Email: ReforestNY@tnc.org

The Nature Conservancy in New York seeks proposals from nursery professionals to expand nursery capacity and enable reforestation efforts in New York state

New York’s reforestation goals are ambitious and require an exponential increase of native tree stock to be achieved. The Nature Conservancy in New York has launched a Reforestation Demonstration project to test methods to increase tree planting in New York state. The demonstration project is primarily focused in the northwestern and southern-tier regions. We are happy to announce that, as part of this program, TNC is offering a second round of Nursery Incubation Program funding to build on the success of the first round awarded through our January 2025 RFP. In the first round, TNC selected two nurseries in Western NY for the Incubation Program – Swiftwater: Organic Farmstead and Reserve and Native Forest Nursery NY. Both nurseries have begun scaling their operations by building capacity in nursery labor, improving seed collection and processing capabilities, and purchasing equipment and infrastructure to support operational activities. An official announcement will be shared soon on nature.org.

For this round, TNC will be awarding a total of $340,000 in Nursery Incubation Program funds to eligible entities. The number of awards will be determined in the evaluation process. Applicants can apply for an award amount not below $50,000 and not exceeding $340,000, the total amount of available funds. TNC intends to pair the awards with a multi-year advance procurement contract (APC) to build nursery capacity and enable further investments to meet future demand. The total value of the APC will vary by applicant and is in addition to the Incubation Program awarded funds.

TNC requests proposals from nursery professionals for the Incubation Program to increase native tree production capacity. As part of this program, TNC is interested in partnering with recipients to expand seed collection processes, invest in nursery infrastructure and workforce development, and improve coordination and logistics. The goal of this program is to show a measurable increase of native trees in the NY reforestation supply chain by investing in native tree nursery capacity. This award, paired with an APC, aims to increase the number of trees in the NY reforestation supply chain by up to 100,000 trees by 2029.

The award application process will consist of two selection rounds: a pre-proposal round and a full proposal round. A review committee will evaluate applications at both stages. All applicants will submit a pre-proposal (form linked here), which includes an Applicant questionnaire, employee resumes, and a statement of purpose. Note: Applicants who submitted pre-proposal applications for the January 2025 funding round are welcome to reapply. If reapplying, Applicants can reuse information (e.g., the statement of purpose) from their prior submission where the same or similar information is requested. Applicants can request a copy of their previous responses by reaching out to the RFP procurement contact.

After evaluating the pre-proposals, TNC will invite a select number of applicants to submit a full proposal, which will include a detailed business plan with optional accompanying narrative, description of stock provenance tracking processes, and references. Upon the completion of the full proposal stage, TNC will select one or more award recipients. More information on this process is in the remainder of this RFP. Note: If applicants in the January 2025 RFP were selected to submit a full proposal, those applicants will have the option to modify the January 2025 full proposal materials for this submission.

The timeline for the RFP is found below. All activities are due on the provided date by 5pm EST. All RFP documents can be found in a public folder here.

Activity	Date
RFP Release date	October 2^nd, 2025
Pre-proposal submission deadline	October 22^nd, 2025
Full Proposal Request notification	October 29^th, 2025
Full Proposal due	November 19^th, 2025
Final recipient selection notification	December 5^th, 2025
Project start	January/February 2026
Project completion	June 30^th, 2029

All Applicant queries must be submitted to TNC’s local BU Procurement Contact through the email address ReforestNY@tnc.org. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to seek clarification if they do not fully understand elements of the application process.

Thank you for your interest in submitting an RFP to The Nature Conservancy NY’s Reforestation Demonstration Nursery Incubation Program.

Best,

Mandy St. Hilaire & the TNC NY Reforestation Team

Mandy St. Hilaire

Reforestation Manager, NY
mandy.sthilaire@tnc.org

518-576-7247

nature.org

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SURVEY: Northern Forests Extension Climate Change Community of Practice

Background
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension and partners are interested in deepening our support for forestry Extension professionals across the twenty states within the Midwest and Northeast (CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WI, WV). To do so, we are convening a community of practice centered around integrating climate change into Extension outreach to woodland owners and natural resources professionals working in forested settings. We aim to share outreach materials, best practices, and lessons learned across Extension programs and partner organizations to more effectively address climate change adaptation and mitigation topics in our work.

The survey will help us assess the landscape of climate-related Extension forestry programming, potential knowledge gaps the group can address, and ways to improve our communication efforts around climate change. Your responses are anonymous, though you may be identifiable based on your answers. The survey should take around 8-10 minutes to complete. Thank you for participating!

Follow your unique link to the survey:
Take the Survey

Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2httlY08qVQNLYq?Q_DL=TvkIAxku45vy7BC_2httlY08qVQNLYq_CGC_nkoFD3ztvDMYyPK&Q_CHL=email

If you have colleagues who are interested in responding to the survey and/or participating in the community of practice but did not receive our original email, please ask them to email Scott Hershberger (scott.hershberger@wisc.edu) and Keith Phelps (keith.phelps@wisc.edu) so that we can add them to our contact list and send them their own Qualtrics survey links.

Forest Adaptation Workbook

The Forest Adaptation Workbook will generate information about potential climate change impacts for your general region, and you’ll be asked to use your own judgment and expertise to consider how broad impacts might play out on your particular property. Then you’ll think critically about your property goals and objectives and decide if they are still robust to potential climate change. Next, the Workbook will help you brainstorm and evaluate a list of custom actions that can help adapt to expected conditions, and you’ll finish the process by developing a monitoring plan to determine if your actions were effective.

These resources were designed for the Midwest and Northeast U.S.

It is a joint product of USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science
https://adaptationworkbook.org/about

Browse Menus of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches, by topic:

Forest Strategies and Approaches

Developed for forested ecosystems, with focus on forest management and planning.

Urban Forest Health Strategies and Approaches

Developed for communities working in urban ecosystems. This version is supplemental to the 2016 version of the Urban Forest Strategies and Approaches menu, found here.

Forested Watershed Strategies and Approaches

Developed for water resources management; with focus on hydrology, vegetation management, landscape planning, and infrastructure.

Forest carbon Management Strategies and Approaches

Designed to help natural resource professionals devise actions that can maintain existing carbon stocks or enhance sequestration capacity while providing co-benefits for other sustainable resource management objectives.

Non-forested Wetland Conservation and Management Strategies and Approaches

Developed for non-forested wetland conservation and management.

Recreation Strategies and Approaches

Developed to help managers manage recreation experiences, and the infrastructure that supports it in a number of ways.

Agriculture Strategies and Approaches

Developed to assist agricultural producers, specialists, and technical service providers.

Wildlife Management Strategies and Approaches

Developed to assist wildlife managers.

To Explore the Tool, Go here: https://adaptationworkbook.org/

Considering taking a 7-week guided online trainings using your own real-world project!

To find supporting publications visit the Climate Change Response Framework (forestadaptation.org).

See real-world examples of how natural resources professionals, land managers, and landowners have used the Adaptation Workbook to consider climate change in their management at ForestAdaptation.org/demos.

Find real-world examples of how farmers and producers have used the Agriculture Adaptation Workbook on the USDA Climate Hubs website.

JOB: Land Use Education, Wisconsin

The Center for Land Use Education (CLUE) is seeking a new Director at the rank of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor.

Below is a brief description of the position—more information in the attached position announcement and at the link here.

The Director of the Center for Land Use Education (CLUE) position is a full-time (12-month), UWStevens Point tenure-track faculty position that includes 80% Director responsibilities (grant writing, research, Extension programming, and administration) and 20% undergraduate teaching. CLUE is a multifaceted Extension and education center with one additional full-time tenure-track faculty member and several staff and student employees. The individual will be a UW-Madison Division of Extension Specialist within the Community Development Institute providing Extension leadership, research, and community engagement while engaging the CNR undergraduate and graduate education and community engagement mission. The Director will be expected to connect the resources of the Center to other Extension researchers and outreach programs and to take a leadership and collaborative role in existing and emerging community development and land use and natural resource initiatives, teams, and opportunities.

I am the Search Committee Chair, so please feel free to contact me about CLUE or living in Stevens Point!

All the best,
Austin Holland, PhD (he/him)
Assistant Professor, Conservation & Community Planning
Extension Specialist, Center for Land Use Education
Environment & Society, College of Natural Resources
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

The College of Natural Resources (CNR) is one of the largest comprehensive natural resources undergraduate programs in North America. This position will serve in the Environment and Society Discipline, which includes BS and MS in Natural Resources degree options in Conservation and Community Planning, Environmental Education and Interpretation, Environmental Science and Management, and Conservation Law Enforcement. The discipline is home to the Center for Land Use Education (CLUE).

CLUE is a UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison Division of Extension (Extension) collaborative outreach and statewide engagement center. The Center is a statewide focal point for land use planning and management education in Wisconsin focused on: training for elected officials, staff, and communities; planning and zoning education and resources; natural resource planning education and resources; applied research helping communities and groups work toward sustainable land use outcomes; and, student engagement in our CNR faculty roles to ensure high quality competencies in our graduates.

Through the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, UW-Stevens Point stimulates intellectual growth, provides a liberal education, and prepares students for a diverse sustainable world. The university is committed to creating a safe, inclusive learning community for all faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds. Visit https://www.uwsp.edu/join-uw-stevens-point/ for more information about UW-Stevens Point

JOB: Extension Forestry Outreach Coordinator, UVM

The UVM Extension Forestry Program is committed to providing science-based outreach, education, technical assistance, and research findings to promote knowledge transfer, ecological stewardship, and climate-focused decision-making on forested lands across Vermont and the region.

The Extension Forestry Outreach Coordinator will provide outreach, program and partner coordination, and technical assistance related to the ecological functions of forests, climate change impacts, carbon benefits, biodiversity, and sustainable management. This position will provide coordination and support to the Extension Forestry program and its many partners, help create educational and outreach materials, oversee website and social media content, and assist landowners, conservation commissions, foresters, non-profits, loggers, and others interested parties find relevant information and connect with programs.

https://www.uvmjobs.com/hr/postings/78765/preview

Positing number: S5489PO

JOB: Applied Forest and Climate Scientist, Minnesota, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

The Applied Forest and Climate Scientist (AFCS) will be based in Minnesota. Depending on location, hybrid in-office or flexible work arrangements are possible. The AFCS will be expected to travel occasionally to field offices or for partner meetings within and around the region. Travel frequency will be determined by project needs.

WHO WE ARE

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

As the Applied Forest Climate Scientist (AFCS,) you will provide technical and scientific leadership in forest ecology, monitoring and evaluation of conservation strategies, and forest-based climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and policy. You will be part of the Science team and and an integrated member of the Resilient Forest team that serves as a thought partner to provide science to direct biodiversity and climate-driven strategies, fill research and information gaps, and quantify biodiversity and GHG emission outcomes. You will also supervise staff, including performance management, training, and onboarding. Task oriented projects may include leading a forest monitoring and evaluation initiative, evaluation of carbon benefits of improved forest management practices, developing carbon accounting protocols for conservation projects, evaluating effectiveness of adaptation approaches, or staying current on forest science to advise TNC’s external affairs team.

In this role, you will contribute to the Science Team and Resilient Forest Team’s communication goals by communicating scientific findings, literature, and knowledge syntheses to a diverse audience (including the general public, partners, media, and the scientific community). Communication outlets include written reports, fact sheets, scientific publications, popular media stories, media interviews, and both formal and informal oral presentations. You will also provide technical and scientific leadership for forest resilience and climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and policy.

As the AFCS, you will work with internal and external colleagues to collect and manage data for forest resilience and climate mitigation and adaptation projects. You will convene/facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations, conduct scientific surveys and research, record data, write reports and support donor engagement, and develop proposals to support forest science information gaps or needs. Depending on the project, field work might be necessary; therefore, you should expect to work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain or under physically demanding circumstances.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

The AFCS will contribute to an interdisciplinary team of scientists and staff with expertise in grassland, forest, and freshwater ecosystems and spatial and statistical analyses. You will have the opportunity to inform on the ground conservation actions across a diversity of landscapes and communities with a diverse set of partners and build the evidence base for our conservation work.

TNC is a global organization tackling climate change around the world. While focused on applying carbon accounting and adaptation strategies locally in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, you will have the opportunity to collaborate and connect with TNC colleagues working on similar challenges in other places. In this position, you will take a lead role in informing our forest resilience and climate strategies and quantifying impacts and outcomes, working both independently and collaboratively with multiple TNC teams and partners. Through this work, you will build and maintain relationships and collaborations with a broad and diverse knowledge and conservation community.

We’re looking for a passionate, dedicated person to lead cross functional teams in support of our conservation work. Communication and experience interpreting scientific information are key in this role. If that sounds like you, come join TNC and apply today!

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Master’s degree in science related field and 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience managing people, projects, workloads, and finances with adherence to deadlines.
Experience leading and working with cross functional teams.
Experience synthesizing, interpreting, and communicating scientific information.
Experience preparing reports of findings.
Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
Experience working in forested ecosystems or with forest ecosystem carbon modeling.
Experience with common environmental science software applications (e.g., ArcGIS, R, Microsoft Office).

WHAT WE BRING

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION

The AFCS will be based in Minnesota. Depending on location, hybrid in-office or flexible work arrangements are possible. The AFCS will be expected to travel occasionally to field offices or for partner meetings within and around the region. Travel frequency will be determined by project needs.

Creating a community of inclusivity and belonging through collaboration and feedback is an intentional effort in the Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota Chapter which is in alignment with the broader organization. We’re committed to building a culture based on trust, transparency, empathy, and accountability. We value individuality and difference of backgrounds and ideas, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

SALARY INFORMATION

The starting pay range for a candidate selected for this position is generally within the range of $65,280 – $89,675 for annual base salary. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 56026, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

Our recruiting process is a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy’s background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.

Conservation Easement Programs for Rural Landowners, Webinar, Dec 5

Join us on Thursday, December 5th from 7:00 to 8:00 pm to learn about conservation tools such as easements and potential funding opportunities available to rural landowners in New York. Land Conservation Specialist Kate Riley from the Finger Lakes Land Trust (www.fllt.org) will cover the options available to landowners to protect and preserve the legacy they have created for their land. Bring your questions. To join the free webinar, register ahead at: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N7wjZI90QTK5N7DTYBzMjQ Organized by the Southern Finger Lakes Chapter of the NY Forest Owners Association (www.nyfoa.org) and the Cornell Cooperative Extension SCNY Ag Team. Contact Brett Chedzoy at bjc226@cornell.edu with questions.

Brett Chedzoy
Sr. Resource Educator – Ag and Natural Resources
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County
South Central NY Agricultural Team
office: 607-535-7161 – cell: 607-742-3657
bjc226@cornell.edu
www.forestconnect.info

Job: Hudson Estuary Trees for Tributaries

Streamside Restoration Technician with Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs

Learn more and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/ye6rz3dc

The Restoration Technician, will be responsible for developing and maintaining a plant materials nursery, conducting plant monitoring at previous restoration sites, data entry, providing one-on-one assistance to landowners, assessing and preparing potential planting sites, and leading volunteers at planting projects. Other duties include:

Implementing, monitoring, and adaptively managing streamside restoration and enhancement projects.
Assessing and preparing streamside planting project sites.
Leading volunteers at planting events.
Developing and maintaining a native plant materials center for planting projects.
Assessing and mapping planted project areas using an established protocol.
Monitoring and managing invasive species.
Instructing landowners in the maintenance of restoration areas.
Updating and maintaining databases and files.

CONTACT

Beth Roessler

Stream Buffer Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program/ NYS Water Resources Institute

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

21 South Putt Corners Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561

P: (845) 256-2253 | F: (845) 255-3649 | beth.roessler@dec.ny.gov

Funding: RCPP Upper Susquehanna Ag BMPs, due Aug 23

Accepting Applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program in the New York portion of the Upper Susquehanna Watershed.

July 25, 2024

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the sign-up period for Farmstead Practices in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed of New York through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The application deadline is August 23, 2024.

This funding is part of the RCPP Upper Susquehanna Agricultural BMP Implementation Project. The RCPP uses partnerships to coordinate and target resources to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability. The Upper Susquehanna Agricultural BMP Implementation Project is focused on reducing field nutrient, sediment and pathogen loss, improving the storage and handling of pollutants, as well as improving livestock production limitations in the Upper Susquehanna Watershed portion of New York.

All applications are competitive and are ranked based on locally identified resource priorities, as well as the overall benefit to the environment. Interested landowners within the project area in New York should contact their local NRCS Service Center or their local Soil and Water Conservation District for more information.

Contact

Emily Dekar

(607)972-7983

dekare@tiogacountyny.gov