Lesson 7 – Bridging Forestry, Farming, and Habitat

 

Presentation Recording

Presenters

Michael Lynch is the Great Lakes Director for the Forest Stewards Guild. Michael focuses on regional research needs, collaboration opportunities, and natural resource planning at a landscape-scale. Michael has specialized experience developing integrated solutions to balance the multifaceted ecological, economic, and social needs of the Lake State’s forest resources. Michael holds a BA from Gustavus Adolphus College with majors in Biology and Environmental Studies and an MS in Biological Integration from the University of Minnesota. Prior to working for the Forest Stewards Guild, Michael worked with the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota Forest Resources Council/Minnesota DNR, Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association, and USDA Forest Service. Michael also operates a southern Minnesota corn and soybean farm that pairs land and water conservation practices with production agriculture. Michael's office is located in Mankato, MN.

Dr. Dale Gentry is the Director of Conservation for Audubon’s Upper Mississippi River regional office. Dale works to develop and implement Audubon’s habitat conservation and science programs in the Mississippi River flyway, grasslands, and wetlands across Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. Before starting with Audubon in 2021, Dale spent 15 years in higher education as a professor at the Teton Science Schools in Grand Teton National Park and the University of Northwestern St. Paul studying avian community ecology and the keystone species concept in forests. Dale lives in Shoreview with his family and enjoys birdwatching, cooking, cycling, and Nordic skiing.

Learning Objectives

Upon successfully completing this lesson, participants will have learned about:

• Important habitat features for forest birds
• Forest stewardship techniques that can enhance forest bird habitat
• How sugarbush management can be modified to support birds and wildlife
• Market based conservation programs
  
  

Resources

1. Forestry for Minnesota Birds Guide
2. Forestry for Minnesota Birds Brochure
3. Audubon's Bird Friendly Maple Map
   
   

Video