Join the Illinois Forestry Association for a field tour to learn more about the forest management techniques that are being conducted today to keep Illinois forests healthy and productive! This field tour will be held at Touch of Nature Environmental Center. This event will be free and open to the public, but preregistration is required.
When: This field tour will be held on Saturday, May 22nd from 10:00am - 11:30am
Where: Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Attendees should meet at Freeberg Hall in the upper parking lot. The meeting location will be marked by signs. Address: 1206 Touch of Nature Road, Makanda, IL 62958
Program Schedule:
10:00 am - 10:30 am Dr. Charles Ruffner - Forest Management Tour Learn about the forest management techniques being done at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, such as forest thinning and prescribed fire. Dr. Ruffner is a forestry professor at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
10:35 am -11:00 pm Roger Smith - Invasive Species Control Tour Learn about the invasive plant control efforts being made at Touch of Nature. This tour will show the benefits of using a forestry mulcher to control woody invasives as well as the follow-up techniques required to succesfully eradicate invasives. Roger Smith is a consulting forester/arborist.
11:05 am - 11:30 am Zach DeVillez and Chris Evans - Emerald Ash Borer Learn how to identify ash trees impacted by emerald ash borer. Many ash trees in Southern Illinois are showing symptoms of decline, resulting in widespread mortality. Chris Evans and Zach DeVillez have research in Southern Illinois to trap and monitor for EAB through the University of Illinois Extension Forestry.
Note: We can only accept 50 attendees for this field tour Register Now At: https://www.ilforestry.org/event-4300714
Full Event Flyer: IFA Southern Region Field Tour - Touch of Nature Environmental Center.pdf
Attendees should make sure to bring suitable attire to hike in. Face masks are optional but we will ask that attendees prepare to adhere to proper social distancing.
