Woodland Academy: Forest Management for Wildlife at Great Mountain Forest
Landowners, forest managers, conservation organizations, and municipal leaders can learn how forestry practices support healthy wildlife populations during Woodland Academy: Forest Management for Wildlife on August 27 from 9 am to 4 pm at Great Mountain Forest.
This full-day course examines the relationship between forest management and wildlife habitat, exploring how forest age, structure, and composition influence the species that live within a woodland ecosystem. Participants will learn how practices such as thinning, regeneration cuts, and habitat diversification can be used to support songbirds, mammals, pollinators, and other wildlife while meeting broader land management goals.
The program combines classroom instruction with field visits, allowing attendees to observe real-world examples of wildlife-focused forest management. Experts from Connecticut DEEP, the Sharon Audubon Center, and Great Mountain Forest will share practical strategies for balancing conservation objectives with long-term forest stewardship.
Instructors include wildlife biologist Peter Picone of Connecticut DEEP, Eileen Fielding, Center Director of the Sharon Audubon Center, and Great Mountain Forest forester Kate Regan-Loomis.
The course has been approved for two Connecticut Forest Practitioner continuing education credits. Participants should be comfortable spending significant time outdoors, walking off-trail over uneven terrain, and standing for extended periods in varying weather conditions.
Coffee, tea, water, and snacks will be provided. Participants should bring their own lunch.
The workshop will take place at the historic Yale Camp within Great Mountain Forest, accessed via the forest’s West Gate on Chattleton Road off Canaan Mountain Road in Falls Village, CT. Detailed directions will be provided after registration.
Registration is $25 per person.
For registration and additional information, visit https://greatmountainforest.org/forest-management-for-wildlife/.
