SUNY’s SEAC Hosts Arboretum’s Breglia on February 19;

Focus on New York’s Ancient Forests as Links to Past and Future

ESPERANCE, NY (02/12/2008)(readMedia)-- Fred Breglia, ISA Certified Arborist and cofounder of the New York State Old Growth Forest Association, will be the featured speaker at a meeting of SUNY Cobleskill's Student Environmental Action Coalition on February 19. The presentation is free and open to the public.

For many horticulturalists, environmentalists, and “earth watchers”— particularly in the northeast — the name Fred Breglia conjures up near-instant associations with the George Landis Arboretum, where he serves as ISA Certifies Arborist and Director of Horticulture and Operations; The Earth Charter Roundtable, for which Mr. Breglia is a highly visible, active, and passionate advocate; and the New York Old Growth Forest Association, of which he is cofounder and president.

In 2007, the 33-year old Breglia received three commendations from extended Capital Region organizations: designation as one of the Capital Region’s 40 Under Forty young entrepreneurs by the Business Review; recognition as SUNY Cobleskill’s 2007 Alumnus of the Year; and The State University of New York as it marks the 40th anniversary of its Educational Opportunity Program. He also is a recurring and popular guest on Northeast Public Radio via WAMC’s Vox Pop Gardening Show.

Mr. Breglia is expected to bring the experience and insights of his diverse background and longstanding commitment to environmental issues to a February 19 presentation in SUNY Cobleskill’s Bouck Hall. His presentation, “New York’s Ancient Forests: Linking the Past and Future,” is sponsored by SEAC, the SUNY Student Environmental Action Coalition, and begins at 7:30 PM at SUNY's Bouck Auditorium, There is no admission charge although free will donations will be welcomed to support the work of SEAC.

Cynthia Campbell, SUNY faculty advisor for SEAC and proactive supporter of the program, says that the organization's mission is to inform, educate, and inspire students and citizens to take action related to environmental issues and challenges.

"When Fred Breglia spoke at SEAC's first conference three years ago," she recalls, “the event drew close to 150 people. He was a great speaker and held everyone's attention in large part, I believe, because his message is so affirming. In a time when so much discussion centers on the deficits in our environment -- and how awful things seem to be --he offers a positive perspective on our planet and what we can do to safeguard its treasures -- now and in the future. SEAC shares Fred's love of the forest and the Arboretum continues to be a favorite SEAC field trip."

This month, Mr. Breglia’s presentation will showcase the most recently discovered old-growth sites and will include discussion of the global role these forests play in Earth Sustainability. Among the state sites to be discussed are two old growth forests at the Arboretum.

Ancient Forests at Landis The Landis Arboretum is a public garden that straddles both Schoharie and Montgomery Counties. Its 548 acres encompass more than eight miles of hiking and walking trails overlooking picturesque Schoharie Valley near Esperance, NY. Landis offers New York State’s most compete collection of Native Trees and Shrubs, a newly reclaimed quarry garden, and a year-round calendar of events for both individual and families. Forty acres of the Arboretum are developed with plantings, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials from around the world. The remainder of the property consists of natural areas, woodlands, wetlands, and open fields reminiscent of the former farm of founder Fred Lape.

The Arboretum's most recent land acquisition almost doubled the size of the site (now 548-acres) and contains a horticulture bonanza. In August 2005, a team of old-growth-forest experts surveyed the site and found species of trees ranging from 150 to 350 years old.

Untouched Since the Revolutionary War “This is a forest that has been untouched since the Revolutionary War,” said Bruce Kershner, an ancient forest authority, and author of The Sierra Club Guide to Ancient Forests of the Northeast.

A fairly diverse range of species comprises the old growth forest. The dominant trees are American beech, sugar maple, hemlock, yellow birch, black birch, and red oak. Other species include striped maple, basswood, black cherry, paper birch, bitternut hickory, American elm, and a few massive grape vines that are hundreds of years old and over 85 feet tall.

Several stands of large American beech make this forest even more unique. Big beech trees growing in the wild are uncommon today due to a fungus disease known as the beech bark complex, which often kills off beech trees before they can attain their mature size.

Why has this forest been overlooked by loggers and developers over the years? The main reason is that topography—the trees are growing on a very steep hillside—helped to protect the site over the past 250 years.

A new trail overlooking the ravine will give visitors a chance to see what our forests looked like hundreds of years ago. The old growth forest is accessible to patrons by walking the Great Oak/Woodland Trail, starting in the corner of the field behind the greenhouse to the Great Oak. From there follow the Acorn Trail until you come to the bottom of the hill. You will take a left at the T-intersection, and follow the signs to the Ancient Forest Overlook Trail. It is approximately three miles round trip from the parking lot to the old growth and back.

The newly acquired ancient forest and the smaller stand of old growth located near the Great Oak make Landis Arboretum an old growth forest headquarters. According to Mr. Kershner, Landis Arboretum has now become one of three arboreta in eastern North America that have old growth forests. The other two are the New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University.

The Landis Arboretum is now one of only three arboreta in eastern North America that have old growth forests. The other two are the New York Botanical Garden and Rutgers University.

The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum’s vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meeting house and parking field for sky-watching events.

Breglia at Capital Distrct Garden Show Mr. Breglia will be seen again at the Annual Capital District Garden and Flower Show at the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy on Saturday, March 29. He will offer two presentations: * 1 PM Promoting Plant Health by Proper Pruning * 3 PM New and Unusual Trees for the Landscape

For more information, contact the Landis Arboretum: 518-875-6935/Fax: 518-875-6394, www.landisarboretum.org; PO Box 186, Lape Road, Esperance, NY 12066-0186 -- one-and-one-half miles north off Route 20.

Contact: Cynthia Campbell, 607-643-8438; CampbeCV@Cobleskill.edu; Fred Breglia, 518-875-6935; landisfb@midtel.net