Sustainability Series: Native Trees & Climate Resiliency

Sustainability Series returns with a talk from Tyler Refsland, Manager of Applied Ecology at the Wild Seed Project, about the importance of planting native trees as a part of working towards a climate resilient future.

In this talk, Tyler explores the important roles that New England native trees play in storing carbon, providing shade and shelter, and supporting local food webs. As the climate crisis intensifies, there is a growing need to change our landscape practices to promote the planting of native trees, especially in (sub)urban environments where existing tree cover is often sparse and impacts from climate change on communities may be particularly severe. The program includes instruction on tree species selection and simple outdoor seed sowing practices that anyone can do to promote native trees in our built landscapes.

Tyler has an extensive background in plant ecology, forest management, and climate change. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied how management practices influence the drought resilience and carbon storing capacity of oak-hickory woodlands. Prior to his role at WSP, Tyler was a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University, working in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and Wisconsin DNR to develop seed collection and planting strategies to promote climate resilient forests in the Great Lakes region. He lives in Windham with his partner, their toddler son, and dog Harriet.

Portland’s Sustainability Series is co-hosted by the Portland Public Library and Momentum Conservation (formerly Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative). Sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes through time. The Portland Sustainability Series presents a diversity of speakers to share different aspects of the work moving Maine to greater endurance and sustainability. Please join us as we engage in these important issues and conversations!

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