TREES Summit

Join us for a one-day meeting about poplar trees
Toward Renewable Energy and Ecosystem Services
Date: April 25th, 2017

If you would like to attend TREES, please contact Noelle Hart noelle.hart@wsu.edu

If you are coming from out of town, we have compiled a list of hotels and transportation options here.

WHAT:
Strategies for addressing climate change, water quality, and other environmental issues are needed in the PNW. The primary focus of the meeting is to explore using poplar tree plantings as a means of linking bioenergy and biomass production with ecosystem services to improve water, soil, air, climate, and wildlife habitat.

OVERVIEW:
Poplar trees are currently grown for wastewater, biosolid, and landfill management. Other potential ecosystem services include stormwater management, riparian buffers, and soil improvement. The biomass from these poplar trees can be used for renewable fuels and other products to reduce petroleum consumption.

AGENDA: View full agenda here
8:00-8:30 Registration
8:30-8:40 Welcome
8:40-10:00 Keynote Speakers (Topics: PNW Environment; PNW Energy; Poplar Ecosystem Services)
Break
10:30-12:15 Presentations – Poplar TREES
Lunch
1:15-2:00 – Workshops: (I) Buffers and small scale applications, (II) Large area applications
Break
2:15-3:00 Workshops: (III) Economic considerations, (IV) Tree Logistics, (V) Policies/Regulations
Break
3:30-4:00 Building the PNW roadmap
4:15 Leave for tour (Landfill management poplars in Redmond)

TOPICS:
• Energy and environmental quality challenges in the PNW
• Ecosystem services provided by poplar trees
• nutrient uptake and water filtration
• carbon sequestration
• buffers and windbreaks
• Monetization of ecosystem services
• Biomass for bioenergy
• Relevant policies and stakeholder needs

MIXED FORMAT INCLUDING:
• Presentations & panel discussions
• Interactive working groups
• Field trip – poplars for landfill clean-up

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
State and county policy makers, environmental and energy professionals, environmental interest groups, state agency representatives, researchers, & poplar growers

OUTCOMES:
• Increased awareness of the opportunities and hurdles to linking bioenergy with ecosystem services through poplar plantings
• PNW Roadmap and recommendations for poplar TREES
• An informed, regional network of interested parties

PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Patricia Townsend (chair), Sarah Dossey, Noelle Hart, Bob Simmons,
& Brian Stanton.

QUESTIONS:
Contact Noelle Hart noelle.hart@wsu.edu

SPONSORED BY:
Washington State University Extension with funding from Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grant no. 2011-68005-30407 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

START LEARNING NOW:
Curious about poplar’s ecosystem services? Watch this 3-minute introduction to how poplars improve water quality.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Noelle Hart at noelle.hart@wsu.edu at least two weeks prior to the event. Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.