Wood Producers Council Meeting

The Forest Alliance’s Wood Producers Council will hold its Spring Meeting at the Bluebonnet Restaurant in Northampton on Thursday, March 30^th.

The meeting will feature an update on forest products markets in 2023 and a discussion about how the recent listing of the Northern Long-Eared Bat (NLEB) as Endangered will affect work in the woods.

The Northern Long-Eared Bat has had population declines of more than 90% due to White Nose Syndrome, a fungal infestation, and was put on the federal Endangered Species list last fall.

Forest management is clearly not responsible in any way for the decline of the bat, as there are more suitable roosting trees today than before White Nose Syndrome first appeared. Emerging research also suggests that actively managed forest creates better habitat for bats.

Nevertheless, there could be significant impacts on forestry by this declaration.  Speakers from the U.S. Fish & Wildife Service and the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program will discuss what the new status will mean in permitting forestry operations.

The meeting will also include updates from DCR about different forestry programs.

Evan Dell’Olio will discuss current issues and legislation affecting the Massachusetts forest community.

The meeting will begin with a social hour at 4:30, followed by the Bluebonnet’s buffet at 5:30.  The evening program will begin at 6:15 and end at 8:45.

Cost of the meeting is $40 for Forest Alliance members, $50 for non-members.

Registration is now open for the meeting, and can be found online at https://mfa-wpc-2023.eventbrite.com.

Prefer to register by mail? Download and print this form, and then mail it in with a check.

The meeting qualifies for 2.5 Massachusetts Timber Harvester Credits, 2.5 Massachusetts Forester CFEs in Category I, 1.0 Connecticut Forest Practitioner CEUs, and 2.0  SAF CFEs in Category I.

Agenda:

4:30 pm                      Registration & Social Hour

5:30 pm                      Buffet Dinner

6:15 pm:                     Greetings/Introductions – Chris Egan, MFA

6:17 pm                      Sponsor Message

6:23 pm:                     Markets Introduction

6:25 pm:                     Ben Hull, Hull Forest Products, on the hardwood market

6:33 pm:                     Larry Lashway, Lashway Lumber, on the softwood market

6:41 pm:                     TBA on the mulch market

6:49 pm:                     Morton Bailey, Lyme Green Heat, on the pellet market

6:57 pm:                     Brennan Sheahan, Connecticut Mulch, on the pulpwood market

7:05 pm:                     TBA on the firewood market

7:13 pm:                     Jamie Dammann, North Country Procurement, on the biomass market

7:20 pm:                     Sarah Nystrom/Jon Reichard, US Fish & Wildlife Service on the Northern Long-Eared Bat Endangered Species declaration and what it means for forestry in New England

7:50 pm:                     Alexandra Echandri, NHESP, on Northern Long-Eared Bat in Massachusetts

7:55 pm:                     Tom Brulé, DCR – Management Forestry Update

8:10 pm:                     Jennifer Fish, DCR – Service Forestry Update

8:25 pm:                     Evan Dell’Olio, MFA Policy Committee Chair – Legislative Update

8:45 pm:                     Wrap-Up/Meeting Ends

The Wood Producers Council meeting is generously sponsored by Barry Equipment.