Power of Trees forum to tackle ecological challenges

The forum will take place Saturday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fox Lane High School, with check-in beginning at 8 a.m. and the Power of Trees Expo opening at 8:30 a.m..

The forum will offer 12 expert speakers leading panels. Topics include choosing the right native trees for your location, native perspectives on land, and strategies for tackling the climate crisis. 

The expo will feature over 50 exhibitors hosting hands-on activities and free family-friendly workshops throughout the day.

“We are excited to rally our community from Bedford and beyond and inspire attendees to preserve our natural resources,” said Ms. Hundt. She said the theme of the conference is “we are part of a larger landscape.” 

“Bedford 2030 encourages residents to view their properties as more than a yard,” added Ms. Hundt, “but as an opportunity to address some of the most pressing ecological challenges of our time and ensure a healthy environment now and in the future.”

The forum’s keynote speaker will be Jessica Schuler, program coordinator of natural resources for the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. Ms. Schuler is responsible for Lasdon Park Arboretum and Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center. She was previously director of the Thain Family Forest at the New York Botanical Garden.

In her keynote address, Ms. Schuler will talk about the wide-ranging benefits of trees, such as providing cost effective solutions to adverse effects of climate change, including extreme heat and floods, and how they can advance environmental equity.

Among the other speakers are Cathy Ludden, a member and past-president of the board of directors of the Greenburgh Nature Center, who will talk about the best native trees to plant; Rod Christie, chief executive officer of Mianus River Gorge, who will examine how an unbalanced deer population is devouring the understory, preventing natural forest reforestation, and discuss what landowners can do to bolster the health of our forests and make them more resilient; and Taro Ietaka, who works in the Conservation Division of Westchester County Parks, supervising nature centers and the biodiversity program. 

Also speaking are Andrew Reinmann, an ecologist and biogeochemist, who will present the results of his research on the critical role of trees in mitigating climate change; and Shannon Holsey, who has served four terms as president of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians and committed the tribe to serving as stewards of its economic, environmental, cultural and intellectual resources. Ms. Holsey will describe the significance and impact of trees on Native Americans in our area. 

Panel members include Gentian Falstrom, land project manager at Westchester Land Trust and chair of the Bedford Conservation Board, and JoAnn Messina, current and founding executive director of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy.

Tatiana Grossman and Alex Marcoulides of Corridor Forests will share their work successfully planting forests with the Miyawaki Method, a technique that rapidly brings forests back to life. 

Discussing landscape strategies for the climate crisis will be Kim Eierman, founder of EcoBeneficial, an environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer specializing in native plants. Also discussing tree care will be Bill Davies, an arborist who has been working in Westchester for more than 40 years.

Besides the many expert speakers, more than 60 organizations are participating in the expo, which will include interactive booths, crafts and activities, naturalists, arborists and land experts with tips and information on actions to protect and enhance trees.

Tickets to the full program can be purchased for $25 in advance online until Friday, March 24, and $35 at the door. There is no charge for expo-only tickets and students (ages 5 to 18 with ID). There is also a breakfast/brunch add-on available for $10. 

For tickets and more information, visit bedford2030.org.