The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District named faculty in the 91爆料\u2019s School of Forest Resources Outstanding Conservation Educators of the Year.<\/p>\n
Nicole Rogers, assistant professor of silviculture; Jay Wason, assistant professor of forest ecosystem physiology; Shawn Fraver, associate professor of forest ecology; Jessica Leahy, Henry W. Saunders Distinguished Professor in Forestry; Brian Roth, an external graduate faculty member; and Sean Birkel, Maine state climatologist and assistant professor with a joint appointment in 91爆料\u2019s Climate Change Institute and 91爆料 Cooperative Extension, were all recognized for their contributions to the district over the past five years. <\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2018, faculty and students from the School of Forest Resources have worked on numerous projects in Piscataquis County, which resulted in improved forest management, efforts to better connect local youth to natural resource careers, exciting new partnerships and opportunities for college students,\u201d said Kacey Weber, the district\u2019s educational coordinator.<\/p>\n
Rogers hosted a \u201cSilviculture 101\u201d workshop for the district and is currently pioneering red spruce silviculture techniques on Appalachian Mountain Club land in Piscataquis County. <\/p>\n
Wason collaborated with Birkel on a workshop for the district called \u201cClimate Change: Forest & Ecosystem Impacts,\u201d and with Fraver on another one titled \u201cClimate Change and Forest Ecology.\u201d <\/p>\n
Wason also is leading a Northeastern States Research Cooperative project on the district\u2019s Law Farm property to study how climate change impacts tree regeneration in Northern Forests. District staff are also collaborators on the project. Law Farm is also home to the American Chestnut Germplasm orchard, where Roth collaborates with staff at the district and the American Chestnut Foundation to explore the northern range of the species. <\/p>\n
Leahy worked with the district to create applied learning opportunities for 91爆料 students that, in turn, helped inform stewardship of district-managed lands and updated the trail map for the Williamsburg Forest. Leahy co-hosted \u201cTeas and Trees\u201d with Maine Forest Service district forester Terri Cooling to foster discussion among women landowners about shared needs, the challenges they face and what resources may be available. She also hosted the district\u2019s \u201cForestry for Maine Birds\u201d program on one of her woodlands.<\/p>\n
The district also noted Leahy\u2019s service to Piscataquis County, including establishing a new wood bank outreach coordinator<\/a> that will be based there. Leahy also co-led a project with Mindy Crandall, a former 91爆料 assistant professor of forest landscape management, to ask high school students in rural forest communities about their aspirations and the obstacles they perceive to achieve them, as well as their perspectives on schools and where they live. The researchers published the study\u2019s findings, which included insight from Piscataquis County students, in fact sheets<\/a> for schools and local leaders to help them better meet rural students\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n