Restoration Roundup

In this month’s episode, we decided to talk to some stewards from Vermont’s riparian areas that also serve as recreational spaces. Oftentimes the priorities of restoration can be focused on the ecosystem side of things, ensuring wildlife passage, native species health, and the long-term well-being and function of a forest. However, there are many areas that need to balance those goals with the need to make an area safely accessible to people looking for recreational spaces in Vermont's forest...

This week we are excited to share the 12th episode of Restoration Roundup--and the start of the second season! We spoke with Shawn Good of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Karina Dailey from the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), and Gabe Bolin of Stone Environmental about the work being done to remove the Pelletier Dam in Castleton, Vermont. Dam removal is an important way to restore natural flows, habitat, and surrounding vegetation to rivers. Many dams in Vermont are long...

In this episode we interviewed Katie Kain and Ethan Tapper to discuss the effects of invasive species on riparian areas, and strategies landowners and ecosystem managers can use to control them. Katie is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners Program in Essex Junction, VT. She works with watershed organizations, conservation districts, and state and federal partners to restore riparian habitat with private landowners. The Partners Program provides fin...

n this episode we speak with Allan Strong and Margaret Fowle about the importance of riparian areas for birds, and how riparian forest restoration practitioners can best support bird populations. Allan is a professor in the wildlife biology program in The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at UVM. His research focuses on bird conservation and he currently serves as Chair of Vermont’s Endangered Species Committee. Margaret Fowle is a senior conservation biologist with Audub...

In this episode we have a lively conversation with Brenda Sieglitz and Audrey Epp Schmidt about the potential of incorporating commercial agroforestry into riparian buffers to provide both ecological benefits and financial returns for farmers. Brenda is the Senior Manager of the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, which is a collaborative effort, coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, of 200 national, regional, state and local agencies, as well as conservation organizations, watersh...

In this episode of Restoration Roundup, we speak with Annalise Carington, Conservation Specialist at the Intervale Center and U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and Lynda Prim, who is the manager of the Intervale Conservation Nursery. We discuss the shortage of native trees and shrubs for restoration work in Vermont. Recent work by American Forests described this challenge at the national level. They found that nursery production needs to more than double, from 1.3 billion seedlings per year to ...