The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) and Cathance River Education Alliance (CREA) are partnering on a yearlong program of lectures and field trips to share stories of understanding and hope in a changing climate. With the program, A Local Look at Our Changing Climate, we hope to provide in simple terms some insight into how climate change is affecting mid-coast Maine.
“While there is a host of complex data, policies, and technologies that address global climate change,” says Cathance River Education Alliance Executive Director Matt Dubel, “this series will build community understanding of what change looks like right here, in our own back yards. And it will highlight what some people in the mid-coast region are doing to adapt and make a difference.”
He adds that the series will also give people information about actions they can take to make the region more resilient in the face of change.
The goal of the series is to build community confidence that individuals can positively impact the future of coastal Maine in the face of a global issue.
“The resilience of our community depends on citizens who are informed and empowered,” says Lee Cataldo, Outreach & Education Coordinator at the Land Trust. “This series is an effort to encourage people with positive and constructive information.”
Lecture topics through the year include: research from backyard studies and citizen science; forest changes and evolving forest management practices; shifting bird migration patterns; local seafood industry adaptations; and invasive forest insects. Fall topics will focus on sustainable energy and local food impacts and options.
The schedule of events is still growing, and details can be found at www.btlt.org/events
Schedule of Events
Lectures are held on the last Tuesday of most months, at 6:30pm, at the Topsham Public Library in partnership with the library.
Outings associated with the lecture topics are planned for most months, including a day-long Forest Inventory Growth training to begin regular collection of comparative forest data at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick.
All are FREE (excepting a small fee for the day-long training) and open to everyone.
This schedule will be updated regularly, so check in often for additional events.
Click on any event title for more details.
March 29, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library
Nat Wheelwright, Bowdoin Professor of Natural Sciences
April 26, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library
Si Balch of Manomet Climate Smart Land Network
Forest Inventory Growth (FIG) Training
May 7, 9:00am – 2:30pm, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick ($50)
The program will train teachers, foresters, and other community members to begin gathering data about Crystal Spring Farm.
Film: Fishing on Changing Waters
May 12, 6:00pm, Frontier Cinema
ME Coast Fisherman’s Association presents a film and discussion with fishermen & scientists
Observing Bird Migrations –Spring Birding Extravaganza
Join one of the many spring outings.
Decades of Change in Bird Populations
May 31, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library
Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist
Film: Role of Seafood in the Local Food Movement
CANCELLED – June 23
Local Adaptations to Changing Fisheries
June 28, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library
Dan Devereaux, Brunswick Marine Warden
On the Water: Municipal Aquaculture Demonstration Beds
July 18, 2:30 and 3:30pm, Mere Point Boat Launch
Tour the new municipal aquaculture demonstration area.
On the Water: Kayak to Understand Fishing and Climate Change
September 13, 4:00pm, Orrs Island
Learn about fishing and impacts of climate change on the coast
August 18, 4:00. Location TBA
Charlene Donahue, Forest Entomologist
In the Fall: Energy and Food
Details coming soon!
Local Climate Change Resources
This field based, exploratory program connects students and citizen scientisits to Maine forests
An in-depth report from UMaine, covering everything from carbon sequester in the forests, to birds and other species, to agriculture.
Using their backyards as laboratories, participants in the Signs of the Seasons program help scientists document the local effects of global climate change.
Please do your part and learn what you can do to leave invasive pests behind.
These culinary partners have committed to always having Gulf of Maine seafood on their menus.
I want my children to believe their futures are full of hope and promise. Yet they also need to look with clear eyes at the world around them.
