ORNC Council Speaker Series – Building Forest Resiliency at Catoctin Mountain Park

Lindsey Donaldson, Catoctin Mountain Park, Chief of Resource Management, in the Oregon Ridge Nature Center Auditorium

Oregon Ridge, like many of our beloved eastern forests, is facing stressors that threaten its long-term health and viability. What makes a forest resilient or non-resilient? What are the signs of forest health or potential failure and what are the drivers? Most importantly, what can be done? Learn how Catoctin Mountain Park, an iconic 5,700-acre forest in Frederick County managed by the National Park Service since 1936, is working to build forest resiliency as part of a 39-park NPS initiative. Hear about the large-scale strategies and best practices Catoctin is employing that Oregon Ridge can learn from to address pressures such as invasive non-native plant species and deer overpopulation and the results of these management efforts. Learn about Catoctin’s new program to restore native species diversity in the park. Tree species expected to be resilient to a changing climate will be discussed. Catoctin’s Chief Resource Manager Lindsey Donaldson will share results and lessons learned to date and discuss her role in steering this effort.

Lindsey Donaldson began her career with the NPS 25 years ago at the Antietam National Battlefield, serving as a member of the Youth Conservation Corps and then as a biological science technician. She was hired as a biologist at Catoctin Mountain Park in 2009 to begin the park’s deer management program and now serves as the Chief of Resource Management. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Shepherd University and a master’s degree in forest resource management and watershed stewardship from Penn State.

Online registration required.

Adults $10 per person (FREE for ORNCC Members)