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U.S. Forest Service reports look at FOREST management, ecosystem services, and sensitivity of forests The U.S. Forest Service released two reports as part of their Forests on the Edge' Series. The paper "Forest Land Conversion, Ecosystem Services, and Economic Issues for Policy: A Review" focuses on the use of the ecosystem service conceptual framework as a basis for understanding the ecological effects of forest land conversion, and as a basis for understanding the economic issues that arise in designing policies to conserve forest ecosystems. (http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/fote/literature.html ).


The U.S.F.S. also conducted an analysis of "FORESTS ON THE EDGE: Housing Development on America's Private Forests,- examining the sensitivity of the results of the first Forests on the Edge report to four factors: (1) use of updated private land and forest cover spatial data and a revised model of housing density change, (2) projection of residential development on woodland identified as shrub/scrub land cover, (3) inclusion of very-low-density residential development in the housing density change categories, and (4) inclusion of additional watersheds in the analysis by changing the screening criteria. http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/fote/sensitivity.html


LEARN WHAT POLLUTANTS MIGHT BE IN YOUR DRINKING WATER The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization, has analyzed almost 20 million records obtained from state water officials. You can go to http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater and type in your zip code and water supplier to find out what contaminants might and might not be in your tap water.



Training workshops: STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, green infrastructure concepts and opportunities
The Hudson Valley Regional Council is planning a series of training workshops in March on stormwater management and green infrastructure concepts and opportunities. Pending finalization of grant funding for these workshops, we are announcing this opportunity and inviting interested people, businesses, municipalities, and other organizations to contact us about participating or enrolling staff or clients. These will be one-day workshops focusing on basic concepts and emerging design principles for using bioretention, green roofs and walls, rain gardens, rain barrels and cisterns, vegetated swales, constructed wetlands, and a range of other practices to manage water on the landscape. These workshops are designed to provide introductory training on emerging job opportunities and small business niches in the water resources management industry. Unemployed or underemployed people are especially encouraged to apply, but others can also participate. If funding is finalized, these trainings will be offered at no charge to participants in March and possibly early April 2010. For more information please contact Simon Gruber, Consulting Partner, Hudson Valley Regional Council, at sgruber100 (at) verizon.net, or call the Hudson Valley Regional Council at 845-564-4075. Please send full contact information in your email including name, affiliation, phone, fax, and mailing address, and if possible include a brief note about why you are interested.

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Fridays or Saturdays, 9:30-11:30am
April-October FEE $250 for entire growing season
Bedford Audubon Society at Bylane Farm
35 Todd Rd, Katonah-Goldens Bridge

Get Your Hands Dirty Growing Fresh, Delicious Veggies
This Summer While Learning From A MASTER GARDENER:

G a r d e n i n g W i t h N a t u r e: Crop Selection/Interplanting/
Companion Planting/Pollinators/
Beneficial Border/Garden Design
S t a r t i n g S e e d l i n g s I n d o o r s: Pot Making/
Soil Mixture/Greenhouse
I n T h e G a r d e n: Raised Beds/Transplanting/Direct Sowing
Staking/Watering; Composting & Mulching
P e s t s: Insect & Disease ID/Control with Beneficial Insects
R e a p i n g T h e H a r v e s t*: When & How/Recipes
Canning & Preserving/ Keeping In Our Root Cellar
*Harvesting produce for your home table is included in the program.

For information contact:
Jim Nordgren jnordgren@bedfordaudubon.org,
914-232-1999 or Cathy Clare catmint@optonline.net



Thursday, March 4, 11, 18 and 25: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (repeat program)
'SUPERB SUGARS' Program, hosted by Stony Kill Farm.
Environmental Education Center, Beacon, NY.
Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is offering a unique opportunity
this spring for the general public and groups to learn about maple sugaring.
During 'Superb Sugars' participants will engage in the entire maple sugaring process
from sap to syrup, and taste the sweet result. The program encourages an appreciation
of forest resources and an understanding of how people depend on, and affect, the
natural environment. Participants will appreciate why the sugar maple has been named
New York's official state tree. Participants will use all five senses during this class as
they watch the crystal-clear sap drip from the tapped trees, smell the sap boiling in the
evaporator, touch the rough bark while they twirl a drill and pound a spile, and of course,
taste the final product-maple syrup!

Free and open to the public. All ages welcome. Individuals and families need not call ahead.
Organized groups who wish to take part, such as scout groups, are asked to call at least
one week in advance to reserve space. Classes take place completely outdoors.

In the event of inclement weather, some of the class may be taught indoors, but participants
will still go outdoors to inspect the trees. Please note, the same program is being repeated
on each Thursday of the month. For more information about Kill Farm please call 845-831-8780,
ext. 300.



Thursday, March 25, 2010: 7:00 pm
World Affairs Council of the Mid The Global Water Crisis:
WATER AS A HUMAN RIGHT or PRIVATE PROPERTY?
Coykendahl Auditorium, SUNY New Paltz

The world is running out of available fresh water and billions are at risk. Already, many conflicts
have arisen from this scarcity, paramount among them question of whether water should be
considered a public trust and a human right. Maude Barlow will present the causes and nature of
the crisis and share her three-point plan toward a water secure world. Ms. Barlow is Chairperson
of the Council of Canadians, author of The Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the
Coming Battle for the Right to Water, and senior advisor on water to the President of the
United Nations General Assembly. She is also co-founder of the Blue Planet Project which works
internationally for the right to water. Light refreshments will be served.

This lecture is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of the
Mid-Hudson Valley, CRREO at SUNY New Paltz, and the Gillespie Forum.

For more info, contact Laraine Mai, cragsmai@gmail.com or
Martin Charwat, macharwat@yahoo.com .