Sustaining Ash Partners Network Kick Off Webinar

Join the launch of the Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) to promote a collaborative approach to ash preservation in the Northeast, with a morning of learning and dialogue with experts across Tribal Nations, academic, governmental, and private organizations.

The preservation of ash in the face of emerald ash borer (EAB) is a growing concern. Contributing to this forest health challenge, it is often increasingly difficult to work across boundaries and respond at the scales needed to develop lasting solutions. To address this need, SAP-Ne supports a regional response to EAB through education, outreach, and engagement with diverse forest stewards across the Northeast (i.e., Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts) by encouraging landscape level actions to sustain ash, sharing stories of hope, and amplifying the cultural significance of ash among Indigenous peoples.

The first kick-off webinar will:

• Announce our multi-year network goals;
• Explore western scientific and Indigenous perspectives on ash stewardship;
• Share experiences to inspire and engage forest stewards in ash preservation;
• Identify gaps in regional training and resources which SAP-Ne will aim to fill; and
• Serve as a call to action to address the ecological, social, and cultural impacts of EAB.

The speaker lineup includes:

• Anthony D’Amato, Professor and Forestry Program Director, University of Vermont
• Richard Silliboy, Basketmaker and Vice Chief, Mi’kmaq Nation
• Caitlin Cusack, Forester, Vermont Land Trust
• Les Benedict, Environment Division Assistant Director, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

Following the plenary talks, attendees will be invited to participate in breakout sessions, led by program partners from their associated state (i.e., ME, NH, VT, NY, MA), where participants will have the opportunity to share their concerns, lessons learned, and resources/training opportunities and/or needs.

Are you interested in learning more about stewarding ash across the landscape? Then click here to sign up for this event today!

This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Ed Credit.

The network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program.

If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at rswanwick@forestguild.org.