ESFPA E-News

Register for Upcoming ESFPA Regional Meetings

ESFPA will be hosting a total of 6 Regional Meetings across NY State this fall. This year, we’re aiming for a more informal approach; our focus is on creating a relaxed, social atmosphere where we can connect with loggers and hear your thoughts. There will be no formal speakers, and most of the meetings will be held in more casual venues with more casual snack food. We'd love for you to join us! 

The remaining schedule of Regional Meetings is as follows:

Meeting #3– Virtual

• Date: Tuesday, September 16th
• ZOOM link will be sent to participants
• Time: 6:00pm
• Cost Per Person: free

Meeting #4– Cortland

• Date: Tuesday, September 30th
• Location: Gutchess Cortland—890 Mclean Rd, Cortland, NY 13045
• Time: 5:30pm
• Cost Per Person: $10

Meeting #5– Deposit

• Date: Wednesday, October 1st
• Location: Cannonsville Lumber— 199 Old Rte 10, Deposit, NY 13754
• Time: 5:30pm
• Cost Per Person: $10

Meeting #6– Lake George

• Date: Thursday, October 2nd 
• Location: Courtyard Marriott Lake George—365 Canada St, Lake George, NY 12845
• Time: 5:30pm
• Cost Per Person: $40

Registration for all meetings is required. To register, please call Dorian Johnson at (518) 463-1297 ext. 224.  NYLT continuing education credits will be awarded to participants.

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us at (518) 463-1297 or at gabriella@esfpa.org. We hope you can join us and are looking forward to seeing you this fall!

Reforestation and Afforestation Guidance for New York

The DEC and The Nature Conservancy created a new guide to help landowners, municipalities, organizations, and others to get started on a reforestation project. This aspect of restoration focuses on planting ecologically appropriate tree species on non-forest lands that were once under natural forest cover. Along with providing habitat and increasing community resilience, reforestation supports New York’s Climate Act Scoping Plan by sequestering and storing carbon and contributes to the statewide initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033.

The guide includes detailed recommendations for site planning, implementation, and maintenance and monitoring; and many reference documents for additional information.

Click the link below for the new reforestation guide:

Simple Solutions are Not the Answer for Saving Our Complex Forests

From the Northern Forest Center by Bob Riley - Part three of “The Forest Advocate” series

A recent federal court decision struck down a lawsuit that would have curtailed forest management in two areas within the White Mountain National Forest and undermined the ability of the Forest Service to access the full suite of science-backed tools necessary to manage and conserve complex forests.

Last fall, the Center joined a group of non-profit conservation organizations in an Amicus Brief in that court case to support the White Mountain National Forest’s management plan that was presented and thoughtfully adjusted based on public input, scientific data, and on-the-ground ecological review. These organizations don’t always agree – but in this case we did – for the basic fact that a ‘simple solution’ of not allowing any harvesting on those lands compromises a thoughtful forest management plan that supports forest health and the creation of recreation, timber and wildlife values that people want and need.

Despite the strong chorus of conservationists that support forest management, we increasingly see calls of “don’t cut trees!” as THE environmental response, a simple and effective message that vilifies public servants and those who work the land and undermines what should be a big tent opportunity to better engage and educate the public through the universal love of forests and appreciation for what they provide.

There is no question that forests are a critical defense against worsening climate change. They remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in soil, roots, and the wood of tree trunks and branches (Catanzaro and D’Amato, 2019). They also filter and supply water, buffer extreme precipitation events, and support a wide range of plants and animals.

But here’s the tricky part: what enables forests to do these things, and to do them sustainably and resiliently over time, is complexity. And the call to leave all forests alone is at odds with maintaining a complex forest landscape.

Forest complexity is the diversity of tree and shrub species, ages, sizes, and spacing. Complex forests demonstrate a greater capacity to survive and thrive amidst environmental stress and act as a buffer against disturbances and reduce susceptibility to insect infestations, diseases, and extreme weather events, all of which are clear, present, and increasing dangers in our region.

Active management strategies, including the careful harvesting of trees, play a pivotal role in promoting this complexity (Kosiba, 2023). Removing certain trees in ways that reflect natural disturbances, for example, lets sunlight reach lower levels of the forest, encouraging the growth of new individual trees and additional species, increasing the growth and vigor of adjacent unharvested trees, and creating more and varied layers in the forest canopy (Catanzaro, D’Amato, and Silver Huff, 2016).

This matters in northern New England because while our forests are diverse and varied in terms of species composition and types, they are surprisingly similar in terms of age and stage of structural complexity (Janowiak et al 2018). Species diversity provides some resilience in the forest, but the age and physical similarity of the trees and relative simplicity make them comparatively less resilient and more vulnerable.  Across any forest, more complex means more resilient, so ideally we want many species, many diameters, many heights, and many ages.

Each forest has its unique characteristics, history, and ecological dynamics and management strategies need to be tailored to specific conditions to be effective. Good forest stewardship considers both the details of conditions on the forest parcel being managed and the context of the larger landscape surrounding it. Fortunately, the principles of ecologically-based forestry can be applied across a range of forest types and conditions for any landowner and supported by licensed foresters ready to provide expert advice on using forestry to build climate resiliency.

People are entitled to their opinions when discussing forest management. It is problematic, however, when they argue based on opinion and emotion but not facts. The Northern Forest has been managed for generations, first by Indigenous people and then by large and small landowners, all with different motivations, leaving a varied landscape largely resilient over millennia. With increasing pressures of climate change, land sales, dynamic forest markets and material use, and ever-changing federal policy, now is the time to ensure sound science can inform a long-term approach to forest stewardship and management, continuing the region’s ability to maintain a resilient landscape, healthy habitats, and strong regional economies.

Let’s not fall prey to calls for blanket “hands off” management that cherry-pick science and ignore the much broader consensus that forest management can in fact support the underlying ecological conditions and complexity that ensures public and private forests are healthier and stronger for future generations.

DEC Seeks Inspiring Images of Trees for Annual Poster Contest

Original Artwork and Photography Submissions Themed “Trees for the Future” Accepted until Nov. 30

Winner to be Featured on 2026 State Arbor Day Poster

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the launch of the annual Arbor Day Poster contest, encouraging photographers and artists of all ages to submit images that capture the power and beauty of trees. The poster is released annually by DEC’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to celebrate and recognize the benefits of trees to people, nature, and the environment. 

“Trees are powerful allies in building resilient communities, ecosystems, and a healthier future,” said Commissioner Lefton. “As we work together towards our goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033, this poster competition is a chance for New Yorkers to share their vision of the beauty and benefits of trees and to inspire others to celebrate, plant, and protect them.”

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Trees contribute to the beautiful scenery that makes up New York’s landscapes and to our agricultural story by providing us with the first crop of the season of sweet maple syrup.  They also power our wood products industry, clean our air, and improve water quality. The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is a wonderful celebration of New York's trees and their importance to the daily lives of New Yorkers and visitors alike. I encourage everyone to take part in the Arbor Day Poster Contest and help us showcase their significance.”

Submissions should reflect this year’s theme, “Trees for the Future,” expressing through original photos or artwork the connections between people and trees, the importance of planting trees for future generations, and the role of trees in providing resilience in a changing climate. DEC will accept submissions on behalf of the New York State Arbor Day Committee through Nov. 30, 2025.

The winning image will be featured on the 2026 Arbor Day poster. The poster is distributed across the state for Arbor Day celebrations, the New York State Fair, schools, libraries, local conservation councils, and other events.

The annual Arbor Day Poster contest is sponsored by the New York State Arbor Day Committee, which includes DEC, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Empire State Forestry Foundation, the New York State Arborists Association, and Sylvamo North America. Entries must feature trees growing within New York State, be of acceptable image resolution, and are limited to one per person. To enter, read the complete contest rules and submit entries using the online submission form.

For more information about the contest, visit DEC's website or email arborday@dec.ny.gov.

Contact a local DEC forestry office or call 518-402-9428 to obtain the previous year’s Arbor Day poster, while supplies last.