August 04, 2005

Forest Management and Lichens

Come meet the mysterious world of forest lichens! Tree-growing lichens are in many ways the first indicators of environmental change in forests: they decline or disappear with air pollution, their species change with increased ventilation or desiccation, and many are intimately linked with the presence of dead wood, a commodity that is at a fraction of its former abundance in managed woodlands.

Workshop -- Friday August 19, 2005, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Panhandle Health District Meeting Room, 322 Marion Street, Sandpoint, Idaho

Field Trip -- Saturday August 20, 2005, 9:00am to 2:00pm
Meet at the county courthouse parking lot, Sandpoint, Idaho at 9am.

Toby Spribille, lichenologist, will present an evening workshop on lichens and forest ecology. Learn how to tell lichens apart and learn about their relevance to forest management. During the evening workshop Toby will present:


  • What are lichens,­ basic biology, physiology, main groups
  • Lichens in forests,­ interactions with plants, animals and the trees they call home
  • Rare species and biodiversity
  • Ongoing research projects involving lichens in the Inland Northwest: round-up of what's being done
  • Clear cuts, selective harvest or old growth: what the lichens have to say

On Saturday Toby will lead us on a Field Excursion to see different lichen species in managed and unmanaged forest stands, emphasizing biodiversity patterns on dead wood (rotten logs, snags, etc.) in forest ecosystems. Different harvest types will be compared within a small area. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different cutting strategies, and what planning measures may be important for preserving lichen diversity.

This program has been underwritten with a generous grant from the Idaho Native Plant Society. It is open to the public. There is no charge to participate, but space is limited so please RSVP to:

Phil Hough
208-255-2780
email: nowhere_man97 at hotmail dot com

Posted by Paul at August 4, 2005 03:19 AM