Healthy Forests: Proactive Strategies for Managing Threats and Promoting Conservation

February 24, 2026 - February 25, 2026
Frederick, MD

This workshop convened in-person on Tuesday-Wednesday, February 24-25, 2026 at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, MD.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a workshop to integrate insights from scientific research, expert testimony, and case studies to build a comprehensive framework of monitoring programs, adaptive management strategies, collaborative efforts, and other measures for achieving meaningful conservation outcomes. The main objectives of this workshop were:

  • Identify major stressors to forest health and resilience in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including from changing environmental conditions, land use change, non-native species, pests, diseases, and other stressors.
  • Evaluate whether and the extent to which the major stressors identified (and interactions between multiple stressors) may lead to declines in forest health through impairment of forest ecology.
  • Evaluate how impairments to forest ecology may impact the ability of forests to improve water quality, how these impairments may lead to forest loss, and the implications of these for meeting the Bay Program’s goals.
  • Develop actionable recommendations for improving forest health and resilience to enhance conservation outcomes through silvicultural practices, invasive species management, policy, community engagement, and other incentives, in addition to traditional conservation.

This workshop was designed to support implementation of the forest conservation outcome in the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

Workshop Materials: 

During this workshop, participants identified and discussed major ecological stressors to forest health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with a focus on which stressors feel most urgent, how stressors interact, and where key knowledge gaps limit action. The discussion explicitly connected forest health to downstream water quality outcomes, including nutrient and sediment runoff, stream temperature, and the ability of forests and riparian buffers to protect and restore aquatic habitat.

  • Day 1 Objective: Develop a shared picture of the major stressors affecting forest health, how they compound, and why they matter not only for forests but also for Chesapeake Bay water quality and living resources.
  • Day 2 Objective: Develop and prioritize actionable recommendations for proactive forest management and stewardship, distinguishing short-term from long-term strategies.

Workshop Steering Committee:
* STAC Member

Presentations:

  • Level-Setting Plenary: Major Ecological Stressors to Forest Health — facilitated by Katie Brownson (USGS)
  • Panel: People and Forests — facilitated by Sarah Johnson (PA DCNR)
    • Allyson Muth (Center for Private Forests; Penn State)
    • Isaac Hametz (TNC), Michele Romolini (Loyola Marymount University)
    • Frederick Watershed: An Evolution of Management — Jenny Willoughby (City of Frederick)
    • Jon Geyer (Hardwood Development Council)
  • Panel: Lessons from Practice — facilitated by Craig Highfield (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay)
    • Roy Brubaker (PA DCNR), Kyle Myers (PA DCNR)
    • Nancy Baker (land steward, landowner)
    • Matt Pienkowski (Woodland Stewardship Network; Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay)
    • Dave Mausel (USFS)
  • Panel: Tools and Approaches for Scaling Forest Management — facilitated by Chris Hayes (USFS)
    • Guy Dunkle (Foundation for Sustainable Forests)
    • Jeff Larkin (IUP/ABC)
    • Sabina Dhungana (VA DOF)
    • Amy Shields (Allegheny Hardwoods Utilization Group, Allegheny Forest Health Collaborative)
    • Phyllis Joris (NeighborSpace)

 

If you have any questions, please contact Meg Cole, STAC Coordinator, at colem@chesapeake.org.