CRSF announces forest climate change webinar, tour series

The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests at the University of Maine will host a series of five webinars and live forest tours that will explore the impact of climate change on diverse Maine woodlands. The Forest Climate Change Initiative and the Forest Stewards Guild will explore the impact of climate change through a series of webinars and half-day field tours highlighting forest varieties found throughout the state. 

“Science and Practice: Year 2, Addressing Forest Climate Change in Maine” will build on the 2020 Science and Practice Forum and 2020–21 Science & Practice Webinar Series.

The 60-minute webinars will feature discussions of topics related to the intersection of climate adaptation and site-specific biodiversity to showcase field tour specifics and include time for Q&As. The field tours will examine climate impacts and management at each site, and are scheduled one–two days after the webinar. 

The series begins with an Oct. 27 webinar focused on the spruce–fir forest at the Penobscot Experimental Forest site in Bradley. The tour is scheduled for Oct. 29. Other sites to be highlighted include the Holt Research Forest in Arrowsic, the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor and the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust in Rangeley. 

Registration for the webinars is free. The cost for the tour, which includes lunch, is $20. 

The full schedule and a registration link are available online.