From The Forest

Every 3rd Wednesday we have Wood Artist, Gary Mead on the show to discuss a native tree, or something else forest-related. This month we'll be discussing the pitch pine tree.Gary is the former owner of Fruitful Furnishings Sawmill & current owner of Gary Mead Gallery in Margaretville, Delaware County. He was born & raised on a dairy farm in New Kingston, Town of Middletown, Delaware County.

Each spring, Ryan takes a walk near where he grew up--the Shawangunk Ridge. We'll talk about this unique area, its history, how it's changing, & where it might be going.

On this week's show, we'll be talk about how humans can co-exist better with beavers--and some of the cool things about this busy animal-- with Aaron Hall. Aaron is the Program Director for The Beaver Institute. The Institute's Mission is "to be a catalyst for advancing beaver management and watershed restoration, training mitigation professionals, supporting scientific research, and increasing the public’s appreciation of the beaver’s critical role in creating climate resilient ecosystems." Dr. Aaron Hall is an aquatic biologist who works to protect species in aquatic and riparian habitats, finding scientifically sound and pragmatic solutions for the threats these species face. He holds a BS and MS in Environmental Science from The Rochester Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from The University of Toronto. Aaron has a diverse background in field ecology and has worked with many species groups and in many ecosystems, and has lived in Central New York, Alaska, Maine, Colorado, and currently resides in Ontario, Canada. His primary focus for the past decade has been working with beaver by leveraging their ecosystem engineering skills to create and enhance habitat for many at-risk species including freshwater fishes, amphibians and reptiles, shorebirds, aquatic insects and others. He is passionate about protecting the delicate balance of the natural environment in an increasingly human-influenced world. Aaron is an avid outdoors person and enjoys hiking, canoeing, camping, birding, disc golf, woodworking, board games, and gardening. Contact: aaron@beaverinstitute.org

Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. We'll also introduce CFA's new Forest Technician--Erik Heidenfelder. CFA Field StaffRyan Trapani, Director of Forest ServicesZane Lawyer, Forest Program ManagerGiovanna D'Angelo, Education ForesterJen Betz, Forest Process Efficiency CoordinatorErik Heidenfelder, Forest Technician

Occasionally, we like to "talk shop" with field staff of Catskill Forest Association on what's going on in the forest. This week Zane, Jen, and Giovanna will dive into what they've been up to and what their plans are for Winter.CFA Field StaffRyan Trapani, Director of Forest ServicesZane Lawyer, Forest Program ManagerGiovanna D'Angelo, Education ForesterJen Betz, Forest Technician