Pennsylvania Forest Online Seminar Series to Begin September 13, 2022

The Pennsylvania Forest Online Web Seminar series will be starting its 15^th year on September 13, 2022. This webinar series is held once a month from September through June on the second Tuesday of each month.  Participants have the option to view live webinars at noon or 7:00 PM. 

Since the webinar series began in 2008, over 20,000 forest landowners and forestry professionals have attended the webinars live with several thousand more viewing recordings of the presentations. The webinar series is geared toward private forest landowners as well as the general public and covers a variety of topics throughout the year related not only to forest and wildlife management but also water, wood products, legacy planning, and more.

Webinars that are planned for this year

The webinars are free to watch but registration is required. The link to register is included for the webinars that are ready to take registrations.

September 13, 2022: Fireproofing Your Landscape

While Pennsylvania is not known for the large wildfires that occur in other parts of the United States, there is still a danger of significant damage to vulnerable properties. This webinar will provide information for homeowners on how to make the area around the home or other buildings safer from wildfires. Register

October 11, 2022: Designing and Maintaining Edge Habitat

This webinar will address the importance of edge habitat, how to establish, and maintain it. Attendees will learn some practices that can be applied in your backyard or on larger landscapes. Register

November 8, 2022: Dormant Season Invasive Plant Management in Forests

The end of the growing season doesn’t mean the end of vegetation control efforts! The dormant season can be an advantageous time to attack some invasive and competing plants. Learn about the various control options that can be used during this time of year. Register

December 13, 2022: The History of Pennsylvania's Forests

Using an understanding of forest's past to inform both our aspirations for and strategies towards tending and growing our forests of the future is a critical cultural undertaking during times of unprecedented societal and ecological change.  This presentation frames its exploration of forest history in Pennsylvania with broad strokes from anthropological and evolutionary historical narratives on both the North American and Eurasian continents preceding the William Penn charter.  It attempts to ask questions about a Pennsylvania forest history that might have been; in an effort to envision an improbably desirable but still possible forest of the future. Register

January 10, 2023: Future Climate Smart Seed Sourcing

Climate change has the potential to impact many species of plants and shift their natural range.  This webinar will discuss considerations to make when purchasing seeds for future planting.  Registration coming soon.

February 14, 2023: Why Care About Trees

We all know about how trees provide the oxygen we breathe, but how about a few of the intricacies of how trees influence our environment? Or provide habitat to over 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity? Trees already provide key ingredients in 25% of all our medicines. Just wait until you learn how to harness health benefits with everyday exposure to our woody partners. Register

March 15, 2023: Update on PA Forest Landowner Survey

Private forest landowners own the vast majority of forests in Pennsylvania and collectively decide how these forests are managed and, ultimately, whether or not they remain forested. This webinar will provide an update on a study that looks at the values and motivations of private forest landowners in Pennsylvania. Registration coming soon.

April 11, 2023: How Berries of Exotic Shrubs are Altering the Plumage Coloration of North American Birds

Consumption of the berries of two introduced species of bush honeysuckles, the Morrow’s (Lonicera morrowii) and Tatarian (L. tatarica) honeysuckles, has for the last several decades been altering the plumage coloration of birds of several species in North America. Avian species affected by the honeysuckles include not only birds that feed predominantly on fruits, but also insectivorous species that incorporate fruits in their diets at the time of the fall pre-Basic molt. This webinar will highlight several examples of plumage reddening that have been studied. But what are the consequences for the birds? Registration coming soon.

May 9, 2023: Coming Soon

June 13, 2023: Wildlife Adaptations

The natural world is a difficult place to survive. Animals face competition for resources, harsh climates, and predators. But, in order to survive, some species have adapted in interesting or unusual ways. This webinar will explain how the process of natural selection works and offer some examples of animal adaptations. Registration coming soon.