Trees of Maine: ID, Ecology & Management

Kick off Memorial Day weekend with this field-study class honoring our northeastern forests and learning more about their fragile ecosystems. Wabanahkik (Dawnland), the broader territory that includes the area now known as Maine, consists of a variety of climate conditions that host an assortment of deciduous and coniferous species valuable to thousands of living organisms.. We’ll discuss individual tree species, their ecological roles, and management practices that support the health of the living matrix.

Students will learn from Maine State District Forester Allyssa Gregory how to identify many forest trees, the history of the region’s forests, silviculture, pest issues, and our roles as stewards for forest resilience in our changing climate. Tyler Everett, PhD student at UMO School of Forestry, who specializes in research regarding ash trees and the Emerald Ash Borer, will discuss the cultural value of ash trees, the philosophies, and practices of managing them throughout the challenging onset of Emerald Ash Borer that harms the existence of the valuable tree species.

Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.

//

Instructor Bio:

Allyssa Gregory is the Maine Forest Service’s Midcoast District Forester. She obtained a forestry degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Her professional background includes rural forestry, urban forestry, horticulture, and structure firefighting. Allyssa is involved with the Tree Farm program as a certified inspector and is a Project Learning Tree facilitator.

Tyler Everett is a citizen of Mi’kmaq Nation and a forester specializing in forest pests, namely the emerald ash borer (EAB), which is a current threat to cultural resources on Tribal lands in northern forests. Tyler is a PhD student at the University of Maine in Orono where he is engaged in research with the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik lab group focusing on the impacts of EAB on Tribal ash resources and identifying innovative management and mitigation strategies for this issue that include an understanding of silviculture, climate change, and most importantly Tribal cultural values.