Workshop focuses on forests and the future - and the public is welcome

Six years have passed since the Station Fire burned roughly 250 square miles of the Angeles, including a quarter of its mature trees. Reforestation efforts were planned long before the flames were extinguished.

Drought now weighs heavy on the remaining trees and climate change weighs on the minds of foresters.

There have been many lessons - often taught by the trees themselves - since the fire.
Talking Trees brings together professionals and volunteers from all a sectors of forestry in a workshop that will focus on silviculture and stewardship; from raising tree seedlings to managing forests. The workshop is free and open to the public, and presents a unique opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge from people who have earned their expertise through experience.

Talking Trees is a unique endeavor for another reason - its partners, Tree People and Redbird, have historically been not exactly on the same wavelength regarding reforestation. Co-hosting the gathering would have seemed a far-fetched notion just a few years ago. The partnership will serve a greater good by bringing together a widely divergent knowledge base and allowing everyone to benefit from the ideas and understanding of their peers.

The morning will begin with four presenters - USFS Captain Garrett Davis, Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District Silviculturist Johann Melissa Lockard, Thierry Rivard on behalf of Tree People and Roger Klemm on behalf of the Hahamonga Restoration.

Redbird and Tree People will be providing snacks, drinks and lunch items - the venue is Chilao School, a one room school house in Chilao Campground, which maintains a casual style and community atmosphere - potluck contributions to lunch are welcomed but not required.

After lunch there will be a field trip to Tree People’s experimental planting site in the campground, and a viewing of assisted and natural recovery along Mooney Road in one of the Station Fire’s intense burn areas.

Red and white Redbird/Chilao School signs will help guide visitors through the campground and to the school. To reach Chilao Campground from La Canada Flintridge, take Angeles Crest Highway from either Foothill Boulevard or the 210 freeway 26 miles to Chilao Road, at mile marker 49.69. Turn left into the campground and follow the signs. Allow roughly 40 minutes for travel time.
For more information visit the Talking Trees event page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/654475864658611/