Monthly Podcast Shares Riparian Forest Restoration Research and Practice

The Watershed Forestry Partnership has released six episodes of its podcast, “Restoration Roundup,” funded by an Education and Outreach grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and NEIWPCC. The podcast, which began in September 2021, is aimed toward those who work on restoring riparian—or stream- and riverside—forests, as well as the general public, and shares research, stories, and best practices related to the management of riparian areas.

The idea for "Restoration Roundup" emerged from conversations Alison Adams, director of the podcast, had with riparian forest restoration practitioners when she began coordinating the Watershed Forestry Partnership. Practitioners expressed a desire to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in restoration research and practice, while also describing extremely busy schedules. Adams thought that an audio-based format for sharing information and stories would be perfect and would allow people to listen in their cars or even while planting trees in the field!

Adams and a University of Vermont undergraduate student, Liz Woodhull, co-host the podcast, which is released on the last Wednesday of every month. Recent topics have included the impact of emerald ash borer on riparian forests, the ways in which riparian forests support pollinator populations, and efforts to develop elm trees resistant to Dutch elm disease. The February 2022 episode discusses the role of riparian forests in supporting bird populations, and the March 2022 episode will cover the experiences of farmers and private landowners who have chosen to restore riparian areas on their land.

Find "Restoration Roundup" podcasts on Lake Champlain Sea Grant's Watershed Forestry Partnership webpage or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or most other podcast streaming platforms.