40 Years of Research, Education, and Application

Kane, Pa. – Thursday, October 3, is the last day to register for the 40^th Anniversary Forum of the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum.  The Forum on October 10 will be on the application of research in forest management.  Dr. Todd Ristau, Researcher in Silviculture, will be the keynote speaker.  The Forum will be held at the Wilcox Community Building (also called the Jones Township Community Center) at 320 Faries St, downtown Wilcox, Pa., 15870.  Preceding the talk will be a no-host social hour from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., and dinner at 5:00 p.m.  The program will start immediately after dinner.  Reservations are required!  For reservations, contact the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, PO Box 133, Kane, Pa., 16735, at 814-837-8550, or e-mail bcarson@ahug.com.

A special field tour from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. will be held to commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum by highlighting research results and use at three field stops near Wilcox.  The field tour will start and end at the Wilcox Community Building.  Field tour attendees need to identify themselves on their registration form.  On arrival back from the field tour at the Wilcox Community Building, the evening’s event will start.  NOTE that the entire program will start earlier than usual.

Dr. Todd Ristau works for the US Forest Service at the Northern Research Station’s Forestry Sciences Lab in Irvine, PA.  Todd has worked at the Forestry Sciences Lab since 1991 when he was hired as a Technician, worked as an Ecologist, then in 2001 became a Research Ecologist and currently serves as the SILVAH Team Leader and Director’s Representative.

Dr. Ristau said, “We will be looking back at the role that the Forestry Sciences Laboratory has played in sustainable forestry practices and promoting partnerships on the Allegheny Plateau and beyond by looking at some of the important publications and products produced by the lab over the years.  I am pleased to have been asked to share this history at the October Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum and look forward to it!”

Todd started his education at Houghton College in New York and graduated with a B.S. in Biology in 1991.  He earned his M.S. in Forest Science from The Pennsylvania State University in 1997 and completed his Ph.D. in Plant Ecology from The State University of New York in 2010.

His current research interests are: 1) nitrogen deposition changes and the effect on black cherry seeds and seedlings, 2) development of appropriate use of herbicides and fertilizers to enhance seedlings, 3) long term changes in old growth forests of the Allegheny Plateau, and 4) enhancing regeneration guidelines for northern hardwoods forests.  Dr. Ristau will highlight research results that fit with the mission of the Roach Bauer Forestry Forum.

Todd’s presentation will be of interest to all forest managers that recognize the importance of research in advancing forest management across the Allegheny Plateau Region. Society of American Foresters’ Continuing Forestry Education credits will be applied for this presentation.