Tues., January 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Birding on Five Islands in Maine with Jim Block
Host: Etna Library
Cost: FREE
Pre-registration required? No

Photographer Jim Block

Islands off the coast of Maine can be very attractive to birds, both in migration and during other times of the year. Jim Block (www.jimblockphoto.com) will show photos of five islands and the birds and other wildlife he found on them. Two of the islands are rarely visited by birders, yet they harbor interesting wildlife. North to south, the islands are: Machias Seal Island, Sears Island, Squirrel Island, Monhegan Island, and Appledore Island.

To attend this program, click on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83930745797?pwd=dDR6M3hGYzlmNkpCRlVFT3pQYmIzZz09
Meeting ID: 839 3074 5797. Passcode: 613316

Tues., January 28, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Sustainable forests can protect biodiversity & combat climate change
Host: Cary Institute
Cost: FREE
Pre-registration required? Yes

Cary Institute President Joshua Ginsberg and forest ecologist Sarah Batterman.

Take a virtual trip to Panama and discover why healthy tropical forests are our climate allies, how tree species diversity regulates forest regrowth following disturbance, and science-based recipes for reforestation success.

Tropical forests trap carbon dioxide in their wood and soils, preventing this harmful greenhouse gas from warming the atmosphere. Globally, 70% of the forest carbon sink is in the tropics. However, these crucial ecosystems are under threat due to agriculture, mining, development, and climate change. As tropical forests are destroyed, so is their ability to absorb carbon and support wildlife. To counter these effects, reforestation projects are underway.

In this Cary Science Conversation, tropical forest ecologist Sarah Batterman will discuss how we can support recovering tropical forests that store more carbon, enhance biodiversity, and are resilient to future climate conditions. Discover how certain tree species can boost the speed of forest recovery and fertilize their neighbors with the help of bacteria partners hidden in their roots. Learn about the role of nutrients in forest health and regrowth, how organisms living in forest ecosystems help each other thrive, and how the right ‘mix’ of trees in recovering forests can promote forest growth and diversity.

This event is free and open to all. Registration via Eventbrite is required to access Zoom login details.

Sun., February 7, 2021 from 3:00- 4:30 p.m.
Permaculture: Ecological Functions
Host: The Howe Library
Cost: FREE
Pre-registration required? Yes

Karen Ganey, the founder of Permaculture Solutions, LLC.

This workshop will provide an in-depth look at the ecological functions of various plant species. We will look at specific varieties of perennials, shrubs and trees and the many ecological functions they provide that enhance biodiversity. We will also go over permaculture design concepts that aim to maximize the benefits of these species when planted together in guilds, polycultures and food forests.

Held on Zoom. Please message Howe Library on Facebook or email jared.jenisch@thehowe.org for an invite. Read more about the event here.

Tues., February 9, 2021 from 6:00- 7:00 p.m.
How Did We Clean Up Our Rivers? An Environmental History of the Legislation, Technology, and Politics of Clean Water in the Connecticut River Watershed
Host: Connecticut River Museum
Cost: $10 per lecture for non-CRM members
Pre-registration required? Yes

Andrew Fisk, Ph.D., Executive Director, Connecticut River Conservancy

We all have a responsibility to make our rivers clean, healthy, and full of life. New England has been both at the forefront of making them dirty in the first place, as well as leading in early efforts to make them clean again. Dr. Fisk will present an engaging talk about the history of clean water, the technology we’ve built to make it so, and of course the politics and debates about what we think “clean” should actually mean.

Click here to read more and register (via the red “Book Now” button on the bottom right of the page)

Sun., February 21, 2021 from 3:00- 4:30 p.m.
Permaculture: Social and Environmental Justice
Host: The Howe Library
Cost: FREE
Pre-registration required? Yes

Karen Ganey, the founder of Permaculture Solutions, LLC.

The fundamental roots of permaculture came from indigenous land practices that were shared with and studied by the founder of modern-day permaculture. The principles and practices are not new, but came from ancient land practices that have been passed down through generations of indigenous communities. This workshop will cover the social justice component of permaculture, how permaculture as a concept is not revoked from social justice practices like rematriation and reparations. We hope to have a guest speaker from the Abenaki community who will share Traditional Ecological Knowledge with us as well as the present-day movement to build towards creating balance with land and ecology.

Held on Zoom. Please message Howe Library on Facebook or email jared.jenisch@thehowe.org for an invite. Read more about the event here.

Fri., February 26, 2021 from 6:00- 7:00 p.m.
Owls of Vermont
Host: North Branch Nature Center and Green Mountain Audubon Society
Cost: FREE
Pre-registration required? No

Zac Cota, Green Mountain Audubon Society board member and Teacher-Naturalist with North Branch Nature Center.

People worldwide have long been captivated by owls, though the intimate details of their lives go unnoticed by most, held secret by the night. Vermont is home to a diverse cadre of owl species including fearsome nocturnal predators, iconic visitors from the high arctic, and stealthy migrants who pass through our backyards by the hundreds. We will explore the unique position owls hold in both our culture and our ecosystems, and learn ways to detect and protect these enigmatic creatures.

Live via ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86848069228

Tues., April 27, 2021 from 6:00- 7:00 p.m.
The Memories and Lives of Old Trees and What They Can Tell Us About Climate History
Host: Connecticut River Museum
Cost: $10 per lecture for non-CRM members
Pre-registration required? Yes

Neil Pederson, Senior Ecologist, Harvard University Forest

Did you know that, until recently, people in the Northeastern US have been living in one of the wettest eras of the last 500 years? Trees do. Did you know that, until recently, global warming had not impacted the Northeastern US like it had in other regions or the globe as a whole? How do we know these things? Trees are witnesses of how our shared environment changes over time. The oldest trees, in fact, and perhaps not surprisingly, often have the best stories. As a person curious about trees, forests, and how they survive over time, the memories of trees, as embedded in their rings, are a great natural database to learn about history. In this lecture, I will share how we have learned to recognize and “interview” the eldest trees in the forest. Their stories can give us insight on how our futures might play out as climate change continues.

Click here to read more and register (via the red “Book Now” button on the bottom right of the page)

Tues., May 18, 2021 from 6:00- 7:00 p.m.
The Connecticut: New England’s Great River
Host: Connecticut River Museum
Cost: $10 per lecture for non-CRM members
Pre-registration required? Yes

Adair Mulligan, Executive Director, Hanover Conservancy

The largest river in New England rises in a small beaver pond near the Canadian border and flows over 400 miles through four states, falling 2670 feet to the sea through America’s only watershed-based national fish and wildlife refuge. This program begins with an armchair tour of this great river in New Hampshire and Vermont, exploring its history and natural beauty through the seasons and among the communities that have sprung up along its banks. Much more than a travelogue, this program explores the many issues involved in managing the health of this major river, and how citizens from all walks of life have created a vision for its future.

Click here to read more and register (via the red “Book Now” button on the bottom right of the page)