Advanced Level II Natural Area Management Webinar Series Slated for Green Industry

The Woods in Your Backyard Partnership, comprised of Penn State Extension, University of Maryland Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and the Virginia Department of Forestry, created an “Advanced Level II" webinar series for Green Industry professionals to gain knowledge and skills useful for providing additional services to clientele. This series will provide in-depth instruction on various topics, including wildlife habitat enhancement, tree planting and maintenance, riparian buffer establishment, woodland silviculture, and invasive plant management.

Two seminars on related topics will be offered in themed weekly sessions from 7-8:30 p.m. starting February 23, 2021. Presentations on February 23 and 25 highlight wildlife habitat enhancement, March 2 and 4 address tree planting, establishment, maintenance, and riparian areas, March 11 and 12 focus on woodland management, and March 16 and 18 features vegetation management, invasive plant control, and herbicides. 

Registrants have the option to attend each live session or only those that interest them. Each will be recorded and links to recordings will be sent to all registrants. The certificate of attendance, provided to all “live" session attendees, can get submitted for professional development credits. 

“Course content is designed to provide green industry professionals with practical techniques needed to grow their business by providing additional services to clientele", stated Penn State Extension educator David Jackson, who specializes in forest resources management. 

A resource manual entitled the “Woodland Health Practices Handbook" and the specialized checklist tool complement the training and are available with registration. For specific webinar descriptions and to register, visit https://extension.psu.edu/natural-area-management-services-advanced-level-ii.

Schedule:

• Wildlife Week
  Tuesday, February 23 - Creating & Enhancing Wildlife Habitat
  Thursday, February 25 – Dealing with Uninvited Guests & Wildlife Conflicts

• Tree Planting & Water Week
  Tuesday, March 2 – Installing a Residential Riparian Buffer
  Thursday, March 4 – Maintaining Tree Plantings: Riparian Buffers & Lawn Conversions

• Woodland Management Week
  Tuesday, March 9 – Applying Woodland Health Practices to Different Successional Stages
  Thursday, March 11 – Woodland Management: Harvesting on Single & Multiple Properties

• Vegetation Management Week
  Tuesday, March 16 – Using Forest Herbicides to Control Competing & Invasive Vegetation
  Thursday, March 18 – Non-Herbicide Control & Efficacy on Competing Vegetation

More information can be obtained by contacting David Jackson, Forest Resources Educator, at 814-355-4897 or drj11@psu.edu or Julianne Schieffer, Extension Urban Forester, at 610-489-4315 or jxs51@psu.edu.