2024 Virginia Association of Forest Health Professionals Conference

Glen Allen, VA

Feb 12-13, 2024

Registration is open for both in-person and virtual options.

Reminder- no education or recertification credits will be offered to those who attend virtually. 

Register early! Registration prices increase on January 9th.

For more information and the agenda, click here.

Monday, February 12th, 2024 

8:00-9:00      Registration

9:00-9:15      Welcome and Introductions – VAFHP Committee

9:15-9:45      Spongy Moth Defoliation in Virginia– Lori Chamberlin, Virginia Department of Forestry 

9:45-10:15    The Evolution of Goodwin Islands – A story of climate change impacts on critical Chesapeake                                Bay habitats – William Reay, Ph.D., VIMS/ William and Mary

10:15-11:00   Aquatic Weed ID and Management Methods – Laurie Fox, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Hampton Roads AREC                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

11:00-11:15    Break

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11:15-11:45    Forest Composition, Regeneration, and Tree Quality: Selective Cutting vs Shelterwood in the                                South– Suzanne Ryan, Appalachian Forest Restoration, LLC

11:45-12:15    Emerging Invasive Plants in Virginia – Lindsay Caplan, Virginia Department of Forestry

12:15-12:45    Emergency Response & Spill Management – Laura Maxey-Nay, Virginia Cooperative Extension 

12:45-1:40      LUNCH provided by VAFHP

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1:40-1:45      Recertification Credit Form Process – Joan Allen, Fairfax County Urban Forest Management

1:45-2:15      Update on emerging and invasive pests attacking ornamentals  – Alejandro Del-Pozo, Ph.D.,                                    Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology

2:15-2:45      Trees and Turf – Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

2:45-3:15      Utility-scale Solar in Virginia: Informational Resources for Supporting Land Owners with Decision                        Making – John Ignosh, Virginia Cooperative Extension

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3:15-3:30       Break

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3:30- 4:00      Current Status of Beech Leaf Disease – Carrie Fearer, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Department of Forest                                 Resources and Environmental Conservations 

4:00- 4:30      Finding a management for Beech Leaf Disease: the progress we’ve made so far* –Brady Holko,                              The Davey Institute and Diagnostic Lab

4:30 – 5:00    The Race to Save an Iconic Species the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) – Cassie Stark,                                The American Chestnut Foundation

5:00                Announcements and Adjourn

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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8:00-8:30       Registration

8:30-9:00       Current Trends With Utility Vegetation Management – Charlie Smyth, Alligare

9:00-9:30       Vascular Steak Dieback (VSD) of Woody Ornamentals in Virginia – Devin Bily, VDACS 

9:30-10:15      2022-2023 Pesticide Regulatory Update – Christine Haslam, VDACS

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10:15-10:30 Break

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10:30-11:00    Bat Regulations Update – Ally Robinson, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc

11:00-11:30    Tree survival and media characteristics in urban bioretention media tree planters – Sara Klopf,                                Virginia Tech

11:30- 12:00    Invasive Worms in Virginia – Theresa Dellinger, Insect ID Lab, Virginia Tech

12:00 – 12:30  Spotted Lanternfly, Experiences in and Around Winchester Virginia Since 2018 – Mark Sutphin,                               VCE

12:30-12:45     Wrap-up and adjourn / Lunch on your own