UMaine forest researcher to present American chestnut lecture on Feb. 21

    SANGERVILLE — Brian Roth knows his trees. A forester since the mid-1990s, Dr. Roth earned his bachelor’s degree in forest management from the University of Alberta 1991, a master’s in forest regeneration from Oregon State University in 1994 and a Ph.D. in production ecology from the University of Florida in 2010.

    For the past four years, Dr. Roth has served as associate director of the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit, University of Maine. He also sits on the board of directors for the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation  and on Saturday, Feb. 21 he’s coming to the East Sangerville Grange to talk about the group’s work to help restore these majestic trees in Maine. The Maine Highland’s MOFGA chapter is organizing the event.
    According to the U.S. Forest Service, chestnuts used to cover more than 200 million acres in the eastern U.S. The tree was highly valued because its tall, straight trunks made excellent lumber. Then a blight imported from Asia in the early 1900s nearly destroyed the species, which has been the subject of intensive restoration efforts since 1995.
    Successful restoration depends on developing a blight-resistant species. Dr. Roth will talk about chestnut restoration and the benefits the work has to the Maine environment, wildlife, and society. The lecture, which runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m., is free and open to all. For more information including directions to the East Sangerville Grange, send an email to e.callaway@gmail.com. You can learn more about the American Chestnut Foundation at www.me-acf.org.