Starting Anew – Reforestation in Wild and Urban Forests of Alaska
Seedlings growing in the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Forestry Greenhouse. Photo courtesy of Clay Hoyt
April 26-28, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska, at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and a virtual option is available.
Reforestation is in Alaska presents a number of challenges and opportunities in both the natural and urban environment. The planting window is short and there is a need for increased nursery capacity to grow seedlings. Additionally, Alaska’s forests provide valuable ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration, so successful reforestation is essential for the state.
This meeting has an in-person and virtual option. The in-person option includes a coffee bar and catered lunch on April 27, and awards banquet, as well as an optional urban forestry tour of downtown Anchorage on April 28.
Individual options Award banquet: $60 Field trip: $25 There will be light refreshments of coffee, tea, muffins, and pastries available prior to the field trip.
Greg O’Neill , BC Ministry of Forests
Matthew Aghai, Mast Reforestation
Julie Hagelin and Tom Paragai, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Rich Sivils, Usibelli Mine
Keith Coulter, Coulter Natural Resource Group
Miho Welton, Alaska Division of Forestry
Jeremy Douse, Alaska Division of Forestry
This meeting is open to all AKSAF members. However, if attending virtually, preregistration is required.
A coffee bar will be provided in the morning.
Jackson Fox, Fairbanks Area Service Transportation (FAST)
Katherine Schake, Homer Soil & Water Conservation District
Jim Renkert, Alaska Division of Forestry
Mark Wolbers, president of Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers
This will be a catered lunch.
Rena Miller, Department of Natural Resources, Commissioner’s Office
Darren McAvoy, Utah State University Forestry Extension
Meg Burgett, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jeremy Douse, Alaska Division of Forestry
The field trip will be a walking tour of downtown Anchorage’s institutional and street trees. We will meet at 8:30 at the Atwood Building and the walk will end at 11:00 a.m. Coffee and pastries will be offered before we head out.
The tour will start by checking out the trees planted in Silva soils cells on the east side of the Dena’ina Convention Center along F Street. It will move from there to the west side of Dena’ina Center on G Street to review the trees planted in planters. We will note the difference between the two sides. The trees planted at the Conoco-Phillips plaza will also be observed.
From the Dena’ina Center the tour will walk east on 7th Avenue to the Anchorage Memorial Cemetery where Ken Winterberger will give a tour of the cemetery trees. From there it will go to the Anchorage Museum to review their tree planting project.
The next stop will be the newly planted Silva soil cell trees planted along 4th Avenue between C and E Streets. We will then proceed west to observe the street trees planted in raised concrete planters between E and G Streets. Next, we will head to the Town Square to observe several invasive trees and areas of street tree loss in the plaza.
CEUs will be available for attending the annual meeting. The following CEUs are available.
There are also a number of other hotels in downtown Anchorage that are within walking distance of the annual meeting venue and the starting location of the field trip.
