Hi all. IT’S NOT TOO LATE to sign up for an IN-PERSON Stewardship Forester meeting, on Thursday, June 17, 2021, at the Penobscot County Conservation Association Clubhouse, 570 North Main St, Brewer. Here is the agenda:

8:30-Welcome, introductions, & COVID protocol reminder

8:35-- WoodsWISE Incentives/Forest Stewardship Program -status update-Andy Shultz, MFS Landowner Outreach Forester

8:45—Insect & Disease Conditions Report-Allison Kanoti, Director, MFS Forest Health & Monitoring

9:30—Invasive Plants—species of most concern, and resources to help; update on the new Invasive Plant Management Program-Nancy Olmstead, MNAP Invasive Plant Biologist

10:15—Urban & Community Forestry updates-Jan Santerre, MFS Project Canopy Coordinator

10:30--   >break<

10:45--“Beginning with Habitat” for private lands –Joe Roy, IF&W Landowner Outreach Biologist

11:30—Crossing the Streams, Smartly-Tom Gilbert, MFS Water Resources Specialist

12:00—Lunch

12:45—Maine Tree Farm/Maine TREE/Forest Stewards Guild updates-Logan Johnson, Forest Stewards Guild Northeast Coordinator & Interim Tree Farm Committee Chair

1:30—NRCS Program Updates-Tony Jenkins, State Resource Conservationist

2:00—Adjourn

THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS HAS APPROVED THIS MEETING FOR 4.5 CATEGORY 1 CREDITS.

THE STATE OF MAINE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN EFFECT ON JUNE 17 FOR INDOORS MEETINGS WILL APPLY. CURRENTLY, THIS MEANS WEARING FACE COVERINGS AND MAINTAINING A 6-FOOT DISTANCE WHILE INDOORS. If this changes before the meeting, we will adjust accordingly. Weather and presentation materials permitting, we will attempt to hold at least some of the meeting outdoors.

Morning coffee and snacks, and lunch will be provided.

Note--There will not be a Tree Farm Inspecting Forester training associated with this workshop. If you want or need training in the 2021 ATFS Standards, please click here to learn about on-line opportunities.

Please contact me by phone or e-mail if you are planning to attend, so we can get a head count for lunch. PLEASE RSVP BY Monday, June 14.

There will be a separate virtual training session on the WoodsWISE Incentives Program processes and procedures, and the Woodland Resource Action Plan specifications, on Wednesday June 16, from 9 until noon. This is for foresters new to the WoodsWISE Program who wish to join the Stewardship Forester List., and for anyone else looking for a refresher on these topics.  NEITHER MEETING IS MANDATORY FOR FORESTERS WISHING TO REMAIN ON THE STEWARDSHIP FORESTER LIST. Final RSVP by Monday, 6/14.

One last item—this will be my last Stew Forester meeting as Landowner Outreach Forester. I will be taking vacation after July 4 and retiring from state service as of July 31. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with you all to deliver stewardship to Maine’s family woodland owners, and I plan to continue to be part of that effort working from the private sector.

As always, thanks for your continuing interest and participation in the WoodsWISE Program!

Andy

Andy Shultz, Landowner Outreach Forester, Maine Forest Service; (207) 287-8430; andrew.h.shultz@maine.gov