Now in its 39th year, the Model Forest Winter Woodlot Conference (formerly the Kemptville Winter Woodlot Conference) is a long-running educational event of the Model Forest, originally organized by OMAFRA and the MNR.
The conference was taken over by the Model Forest in 1996 and later by the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Chapter of the OWA, with invaluable support from local Stewardship Councils, Conservation Authorities and loyal sponsors over the years. The conference has evolved into an online webinar series on topics related to forestry, woodlot stewardship and wildlife.
Register to receive the Zoom link for each presentation you wish to attend. Links will be distributed in a reminder email 1-2 days prior to the presentation. Presentations may be subject to change.
Fighting Back Against Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: A Review of the Tools in the Toolbox
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) is a novel invasive species to Ontario with an uptake in infestation sites in Southern Ontario since 2023. HWA has been present in the United States since the 1950s; most likely introduced from Japan on live plant material. HWA is currently being managed in Nova Scotia where it is a pervasive and widespread infestation.
This presentation will inform viewers of the unique lifecycle of HWA and the integrated pest management interventions available to landowners and managers such as silviculture and pesticide application. We will discuss the current monitoring efforts and programs in Ontario and some of the actions taking place outside of Ontario (i.e., biocontrol) to help mitigate the impact of HWA to hemlocks and ensure their future on the landscape.
Speaker: Sionaid Eggett
As the Program Manager at the Ontario Woodlot Association, Sionaid oversees the Forest Certification Program. Sionaid is a Forestry Technician, an educator, certified in ecological land classification, a certified seed collector, and a James M. Kitz award recipient through the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF). She is also a dedicated volunteer with the CIF Algonquin Section, the Friends of the Petawawa Research Forest, Algonquin College, and Women in Wood.
Sionaid is a strong and capable ambassador for the forest sector, sustainable forestry, and the application of best management practices. She is a graduate of the Forestry Technician Program from Algonquin College, and also has a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph with several Associated Early Years and English as a Second Language teaching certificates.
About the Model Forest
The Model Forest is a not-for-profit, charitable organization working with government, landowners, industry, First Nations, non-government organizations and others to develop new ways to sustain and manage our forest resources. The Model Forest provides a unique forum where forest owners, managers, and users can forge partnerships, share their knowledge, and combine their expertise and resources.
