Building Your Forest Foundation
July 30: Eastern Oregon Forests. An introduction to forest ecology and the types of forests common in Eastern Oregon. Instructor: John Punches.
August 13: Trees to Know in Eastern Oregon, Part 1. How to use tree identification guides and their keys, and essential facts about several Eastern Oregon tree species. Instructor: John Punches.
August 20: Trees to Know in Eastern Oregon, Part 2. Applying your newly honed tree identification skills to key out, and learn more about, the rest of Eastern Oregon’s native tree species. Instructor: Thomas Stokely.
The Low-down (and High-up) on Forest Health
September 10: Abiotic Stress in Conifers. How non-living factors (like drought, temperature, or soil conditions) impact tree health and their ability to resist insects and disease-causing organisms. Instructor: Jacob Putney.
September 17: Bark Beetles. Stressed or recently killed trees are magnets for these specialized insects. Find out how they cause damage, what attracts them to certain trees, and what you can do to minimize risk and damage. Instructor: John Punches.
September 24: Fungal Diseases of Tree Roots and Stems. Find out how to identify and manage these potentially disruptive tree diseases. Instructor: John Punches.
October 8: Dwarf Mistletoe. Insights into these intriguing, but often damaging, parasitic plants. Instructor: Jacob Putney.
October 15: Defoliators. The scoop on western spruce budworm, Douglas-fir tussock moth, larch casebearer, pandora moth, pine butterfly, sawflies, and other insects that feed on conifer tree foliage. Instructor. Dave Shaw.
October 22: The Other Insects. Aphids, adelgids, scales, and other insects that damage terminal leaders, branches, twigs, cones, and roots. And, a reminder that many insects are beneficial. Instructor. Dave Shaw.
November 12: Diseases of Conifer Needles, Twigs, and Buds. Fungal pathogens common in conifer crowns – when to worry and what to do. Instructor: John Punches.
November 19: Wildlife Damage in Eastern Oregon Trees. We’ve picked on fungi and insects, but critters with fur can be problematic too. From rodents to ruminants, hungry herbivores can pose challenges to forest management. Instructor: Thomas Stokely.
December 3: Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystem Health. We will round out our forest health series by discussing the role of biodiversity in forest ecosystem health with relevance to forest management and resilience. Instructor: Thomas Stokely.
What’s Next?
Watch for additional webinar topics starting in January, 2021, with anticipated topics including forest measurements, growth and yield, thinning practices and recommendations, fire ecology, prescribed fire, and reducing fire risk to homes.
