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Monitoring Maine’s Forest Health
June 21, 2021 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Our heritage trees of Maine are under a great amount of stress, dealing with inclement weather and infestations of pests. Is there anything we can do to help preserve and support these species? Come take a walk through CMBG with forest pathologists and entomologists from the State of Maine, Aaron Bergdahl, Colleen Teerling, and Tom Schmeelk, to learn more about the health of Maine’s forests and what a landowner or concerned steward can do to help.
During the walk, these field experts will share their knowledge, identify issues, and discuss forest management criteria, such as supporting the biodiversity that helps sustain and support forest resilience. They will talk about monitoring forests, what to look for, and what to do if any significant concerns arise regarding infestations, degradation, or environmental stressors in your monitored areas.
Tom Schmeelk is one of the forest entomologists with the Maine Forest Service and is primarily involved in browntail moth and winter moth activities in the state, among many other programs. Prior to arriving in Maine Tom worked as an assistant entomologist for the Bureau of Forest Health with the NY Dept. Of Environmental Conservation. In his free time he enjoys hiking, woodworking and cultivating succulents and carnivorous plants.
Aaron Bergdahl is the staff pathologist with the Maine Forest Service specializing in tree disease identification, impacts and management. Aaron enjoys gardening, fruit trees, hunting for mushrooms and spending time with his family.
Colleen Teerling is an entomologist with the Maine Forest Service. She got her Master’s degree from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. She has worked for the state for about 13 years and much of her job has entailed dealing with invasive insects. Emerald ash borer and hemlock woolly adelgid are two of the insects for which she is primarily responsible.
To provide safe in-person classes at the Gardens, classes are entirely outdoors and have been reduced to 12 students. We are practicing the Maine CDC social-distancing protocols. Rain date: Monday, June 28, 2021
