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Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District Forest Health Webinars Focus on Invasive Species and Pests & Diseases

The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District is hosting two hour-long lunch time webinars that focus on forest health topics with guests from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Catherine Spolarich, Invasive Plant Biologist from Maine Natural Areas Program's (MNAP) will be discussing how invasive species impact our forests on April 6 from 11:30-12:30pm. Catherine is an invasive plant biologist at Maine Natural Areas Program, where she supports efforts to map, manage, educate, and provide resources to prevent the spread of invasive plants and protect natural areas. She formerly researched plant community ecology at Cornell University, managed invasive plants in southern Maine, worked on farms, and designed, installed, and maintained gardens and landscapes on coastal Long Island where she is originally from.Catherine will discuss emerging invasive species and how we can help protect our unique forested landscapes. We will discuss common invasive species, their impacts, and what we can do to prevent their spread in the landscape.

Gabe LeMay will discuss pests & diseases in our forests on April 13th from 11:30-12:30pm. Gabe is an entomologist with the Forest Health & Monitoring division of the Maine Forest Service (MFS). In addition to identifying forest insects and providing technical advice, he is the project lead of the division’s Light Trap Survey and the Exotic Wood Borer/Bark Beetle Survey. Prior to joining The Maine Forest Service this past fall, he studied insects in Vermont and Florida and has worked with various non-profits, agencies, and academic institutions across the US. Gabe will be talking to us about the important softwood pests like hemlock wooly adelgid and spruce budworm, as well as hardwood pests like emerald ash borer, spongy moth, and browntail moth along with diseases including beech leaf disease and European larch canker. Gabe will end the discussion with the current situation in the state of Maine and what management efforts are being undertaken by the MFS.

Both webinars will offer time for Q&A and discussions. To register for these FREE lunchtime webinars, visit http://www.piscataquisswcd.org and receive the Microsoft Teams link to join the discussion!