PARIS/WILTON — Invasive Forest Pest Workshops are being offered by Maine Association of Conservation Districts through a grant from Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Workshops will be offered in spring and summer 2016 in York, Cumberland, Oxford, Somerset, Franklin, Androscoggin-Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Knox-Lincoln, Waldo and Hancock counties. Workshops will be posted on the MACD website as they are scheduled.

These workshops will help landowners and users, landscape and forest professionals, and all residents of the state to identify current and potential invasive forest pests and their host species, to understand the threats to our forests and woodlands posed by these pests, and learn how to report suspected pest sightings or damage to trees that may be a result of pest infestations.

All participants will receive an information packet with fact sheets about the major pest species, a list of host trees that the species may be found on, and other relevant information. When possible, workshops will also include an optional outdoor visit to a site where invasive pests or host trees may be found.

All workshops are free (except those that may be part of a larger event that has an admission fee).

Local workshops include: 

Paris: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at Oxford Comprehensive School, Main Street., with Jean Federico, Oxford SWCD. FMI, register: (207) 743-5789, [email protected]

Wilton: 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Wilton Town Office, 158 Weld Road with Joe Dembeck, Somerset SWCD. FMI, register: (207) 772-4279, [email protected]

FMI:  maineconservationdistricts.com/forest-pest-outreach.