Attending the Illinois Arborist Association Fall Conference? Join the Illinois Forestry Association for this special session focused on the restoration of oak forests on the urban-rural interface. Participants will hear from two leading experts who have conducted extensive research in forest and avian ecology. Dr. Dan Dey is the Project Leader for Sustainable Management of Central Hardwood Ecosystems and Landscapes with the Forest Service. He will help explain why oaks are losing their dominance in central hardwood forests and how various management practices can make a difference. Dr. Jeff Hoover is an Avian Ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey. His research has involved the impact of land management activities on bird populations. Learn how our understanding of oak-hickory forests has evolved, and what kind of management techniques can be used to reverse the trends we are seeing in forest composition, while providing optimal habitat for birds and other wildlife species. We’ll cap it off with a short talk about OAKtober – Illinois’ first ever Oak Awareness Month – the inspiration behind this new Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) Fall Conference session.
Check back for the link to IAA conference registration.
1 p.m. Welcome and Overview – Stephanie Brown, Executive Director, Illinois Forestry Association
1:10 The Decline of Oak Dominance in Illinois Forests: Why it’s happening and what we can do about it – Dr. Dan Dey, Project Leader/Research Forester, Sustainable Management of Central Hardwood Ecosystems and Landscapes, US Forest Service at Columbia, MO.
2:00 Oak Restoration: Is it for the birds? – Dr. Jeff Hoover, Avian Ecologist, Illinois Natural History Survey
2:45 Oak Awareness Month in Illinois: A long term vision!
3 p.m. Adjourn
