Got woods?
Upcoming Landowner Woods and Wildlife Conference helps woodlands owners deepen their understanding of natural resources and wildlife.
Jennifer Jones talk about legacy planning for woodlands at last year's conference. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Gagnon.
Virginia Cooperative Extension invites landowners to the 2025 Woods & Wildlife Conference on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, for the Landowner Woods and Wildlife Conference.
The daylong event is hosted in two locations: Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus and at the Daniel Technology Center at Germanna Community College’s campus in Culpeper, Virginia.
The daylong events, running from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Blacksburg and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Culpeper, offer expert-led sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on learning.
Designed for owners of both large and small tracts of land, the conference is a one-stop resource for individuals and families seeking to deepen their understanding of natural resources and wildlife.
Blacksburg highlights include:
- Keynote presentation: “If a Tree Falls and There Is No Bat Around to Hear It, Does It Make a Sound? The Reality of Post-White-Nose Syndrome,” presented by Mark Ford, United States Geological Survey and Virginia Tech.
- Interactive sessions on topics such as beekeeping, invasive plants, drone technology in forestry, and storm-damaged wood recovery.
- Afternoon plenary: “A Primer on Carbon in Virginia’s Privately Owned Forests,” by Steve Prisley, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.
Culpeper highlights include:
- Keynote presentation: “Virginia’s Venerable Vernal Pools,” presented by Mike Hayslett, Virginia Vernal Pools
- Afternoon plenary: “Fire in the Woods: Is it bad?” by Dasha Maslyukova, Virginia Tech
- Capstone: “State of Virginia’s (Deer) Herd,” by Justin Folks, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Carrie Fearer, an assistant professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech, shared her expertise at the woodlands conference last year. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Jones.
The full conference agendas are available here: https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/landownerprograms/ConferencesandWorkshops2/WoodsandWildlifeConferences.html
Registration fees, which include refreshments and a catered lunch, are $50 per person or $90 per couple for early registrations postmarked by Jan. 14, 2025. Fees increase to $55 per person or $100 per couple after this date. Registration closes Feb. 7, 2025.
To register, visit https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/onlineregistration.html or send payment to:
Kathie Hollandsworth
228 Cheatham Hall (0324)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
For accommodations or additional information, contact Jennifer Gagnon at 540-231-6391 or email jgagnon@vt.edu.
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs are open to all and provide equal opportunities regardless of race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics.
