Forest Health
In 2009, TNCC teamed up with many forest health experts including CSU Extension office, USDA Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service and Mountain Village foresters to launch a forest health initiative. Together we hosted two workshops and conducted a number of tree tours to provide youth and the general public with "hands-on" information about forest health. Participants were able to "get their arms" around a variety of forest health topics including spruce bud worm and bark beetle outbreaks, SADS - Sudden Aspen Decline, tent catepillar, root diseases and much more.
Forest Health workshops will continue with the addition of a Citizen Scientist component to provide public land managers with necessary information to make decisions. The forest health carbon connection is a concern as more trees die and ongoing monitoring is needed. Professional Development Training using Science Discovery/ Science Explorers efficiently and effectively incorporates energy education into the schools.
Highlights of Forest Health Workshops and Tree Tours
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2009 Tree Tour participants checking out the state of the forest on Jurassic Trail in Mtn. Village. |
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Bark Beetle "Galleries" |
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Listen to TNCC's Colleen Trout and Colorado State University Extension horticulturist Yvette Henson's interview on local forest health.
Listen to the May 2009 forest health workshop on Telluride webTV.
TNCC hosts Southwest Conservation Corp youth work projects. In July 2009, eight youth aged 13-16 participated in a forest health tree tour and logging project in Mountain Village with Forester Dave Bangert. Students first took a tree tour on Jurrassic Trail - badly hit with a spruce budworm outbreak and were literally dodging spruce budworm launching out of the trees. Later, they assisted Bangert with removal of dead aspen - stacking and hauling the trees while Dave was cutting. Bangert was thrilled with the assistance since he typically operates as a one man show. From there, the kids worked in Telluride, pulling thistle, visiting local farms and community gardens - assisting with various farm projects. Students had the opportunity to experience a variety of local work projects and came away with new skills and experience.