View the webinar HERE!

Part 1: Investigating Maple Dieback and Decline in Michigan

Speaker: Tara Bal, Research Assistant Professor and Master of Forestry Degree Program Director, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University

In recent years, severe sugar maple crown dieback had been noted across the Upper Great Lakes Region, with the assumption being that it was caused by poor management or a series of climate related stress factors.  In her research, Dr. Bal has shown that the poor health conditions in some areas are likely a combination decline factors, some of which were fairly unexpected!  Findings like this push managers to “think outside the box” when it comes to traditional silvicultural prescriptions for maple.

Tara L. Bal, PhD, CF, is a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University.  Her research focuses on forest health and its biotic and abiotic influencing factors and aims to provide scientific foundation for education, management policies, and understanding the ecological response to changes in forest health conditions.

Part 2: Evolving Paradigms of Aspen Ecology and Management 

Speaker: Kevin Krasnow, Research Faculty, Teton Science School

In recent years, fundamental assumptions concerning aspen clonal age, regeneration, and genetic diversity have been challenged, and these findings have important implications for management and persistence of aspen in USA western forests.  In his presentation, Dr. Krasnow will discuss evolving paradigms of aspen ecology and the associated challenges and opportunities for this species in the coming century, with a focus on his research on the impacts of fire severity and stand condition on aspen regeneration.

Kevin Krasnow Ph.D., research and graduate faculty with the Teton Science Schools, is a disturbance ecologist interested in understanding how and why ecosystems change and identifying opportunities for increasing ecosystem resilience. His research focuses on fire history, aspen ecology and restoration, forest and fire management, and effective science education.