Ash Conservation Gathering

Ash Conservation Gathering 

Monday, April 27th

10am-4pm

Lunch, catered by RoadRunner will be provided.

Suggested Donation: $15

Please register by April 16th.

Emerald Ash Borer threatens the future of our forests and our traditions. We are currently in a limited window of time before ash mortality is widespread and it may no longer be possible to collect genetic material from living trees. We have an opportunity to preserve genetic diversity for research, resistance breeding, and restoration efforts through a seed collection effort across Vermont and beyond in 2026. 

Please join Smokey House Center on Monday, April 27th for a day of Ash Conservation learning and seed collection skill building. This event is offered in partnership with Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Forest Parks and Recreation, NorthWoods Stewardship Center, Intervale Center, Forest Stewards Guild Sustaining Ash Partnership Network, and the Ecological Research Institute. This project is made possible with funding from the NSF Science and Technology Research Initiative for the Vermont Economy (STRIVE) program. 

This event is for folks who are interested in learning how to conserve ash species through seed collection and other practices. No prior experience is required, but these skills will be most valuable to people who are in the position to collect seed multiple times this fall and throughout the coming years. Teachers and community leaders who may offer a seed collection unit, land trust stewards or extension professionals who regularly work with landowners, and state and consulting foresters are key constituencies in this work. If you think this workshop is for you, you are right! We just ask that folks who attend be serious about taking action.

There will be a combination of indoor/seated activities in the morning and a field tour in the afternoon. Please contact rose@smokeyhouse.org if you need any accommodations and we will do our best. SAF credits will be available.

Funding statement: This project is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 2438168. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. NorthWoods’ work is made possible with funding from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog Program