May 5-6th, 2015

“Change is the New Normal: Identifying Environmental Challenges and Strategies for a Changing St. Lawrence River Great Lakes Ecosystem”

Hosted by the St. Lawrence River institute of Environmental Sciences, and held at Ontario Power Generation's, St. Lawrence Power Visitor Centre from 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 5 until 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 6.

Find the Schedule at a Glance and register online here (deadline May 1, 2015). Find the 2015 River Symposium program with abstracts here. For more information, please contact the Symposium Coordinator, Christina Collard, ccollard(@)riverinstitute.ca, 613-936-6620 ext 222.

"The Adirondack Forests - Opportunities for Diversity, Water Quality, and Innovation"
May 13-14, High Peaks Resort, Lake Placid, NY
Hosted by the Adirondacks Research Consortium

See preliminary program here.

"The Future of New York Forests at Risk- Working Toward a Comprehensive Solution."
April 25, 2015, 9 am – 4 pm, SUNY-ESF Gateway Center

Forests cover 63% of New York State’s land area and provide critical environmental, economic and quality-of-life benefits to society. Most of our current forests are entering the final third of their natural life cycles but, in many parts of the state, are not regenerating the desirable tree species and native understory vegetation that will serve the needs of citizens, wildlife or the forest products industry in the future. Participants and speakers, through discussion and interaction, will assess the capacity of current knowledge, techniques and policies to assure the regeneration of native New York forests.

This symposium is presented by the New York Forest Owners Association and co-sponsored by:
Audubon New York, Catskill Forest Association, Cornell University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, New York Farm Bureau, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, Empire State Forest Products Association and NY Society of American Foresters.

Who Should Attend?
Any business associated with the forest products industry, environmental organizations, land trusts, maple syrup producers, consulting foresters, farmers whose agricultural interests are impacted by deer, those who value healthy & diverse woodlands as bird and wildlife habitat, organizations interested in forest recreation, including hunting, businesses dependent on tourism, state, county and municipal park authorities, state legislators and the media.

NYLT and SAF Continuing Education Credits will be awarded for participation in the Symposium

Registration Fee: $15.00 (includes refreshments, lunch and handout materials)

• Online Registration

Complimentary parking is available on ESF's campus. A parking permit will be e-mailed out to all registered attendees prior to the event.

• Interactive ESF Campus Map

Lodging
A hotel block has been established for April 24, 2015 at the Doubletree By Hilton in Syracuse, 6301 State Route 298, East Syracuse, NY 13057. The group code is FOS. Please call 800-222-TREE or the hotel directly at 315-432-0200 or at www.syracuse.doubletree.com on-line and add the code where it asks for special codes under the arrival & departure dates.

Event website: http://www.esf.edu/outreach/pd/2015/nyfoa

Celebrate the arrival of spring and learn about reforestation on Saturday, April 25. The general public is invited to the Spring Field Day and Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Woodlot Association (Limestone Chapter) at Chaffey’s Lock, Queen’s University Biological Station, near Elgin. The highlight is a tour of an intensive study of the field-to-forest regeneration process.

Forty years ago, Dr. Dolf Harmsen began a research project studying the conversion of farm field to woodland.  Using the Queen’s University property at Chaffey’s Lock, he has monitored test plots for four decades, comparing different methods of encouraging reforestation of old agricultural land.   

This 50-year experiment challenges the generally accepted theory of succession in plant communities. Observing many local ecosystems, he has concluded that plant communities are really only one component of more complex systems, and that animals of all sorts must play a role in this holistic “ecosystem succession.”

Dr. Harmsen (who has a PhD in insect development from Cambridge University) will report his findings and discuss the prospects for the next 10 years of this novel project. Inquisitive folks are welcome, so bring your questions and zeal to the event. Appreciate the beauty of the 3,200-hectare Queen’s property at Chaffey’s Lock.

The Ontario Woodlot Association is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable forestry practices. The OWA has evolved into a major player in forest education and support for private woodland owners. Visit www.ont-woodlot-assoc.org/

On April 25, the program runs from 9:30 am to 3 pm. At 10:30, Dr. Harmsen will conduct his tour, and participants are advised to wear appropriate clothing for dense, thorny conditions! Lunch will be provided at noon, followed by the AGM. The finale will be a Q and A session with a variety of forest professionals. This gives participants the opportunity to ask about forest management, sawmilling, wildlife habitat, etc. A tour of a nearby butternut tree stand is also an option.

The Biological Station is located on Opinicon Road, and it will be signed. This event is free for OWA members; for non-members, the cost is $15 each.  For non-members who bring their own lunch, the cost is $7 each. Pre-registration is required.  Please contact 613-373-9334 or [email protected].