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At Up Yonda Farm, an effort to improve the forest

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BOLTON -- Jim Lieberum leaned close to the ash tree, pointing out the tell-tale marks of an infestation by an insect known as emerald ash borer (EAB).

The ash tree was one of several amid a stand of pines and maples on the grounds of Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center in Bolton that appeared to be struggling from the invasive insect that is killing trees around the Adirondacks.

The walk around the grounds of the Warren County-owned Up Yonda property was part of a Forest Management Plan that Lieberum, District Manager at Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District (WCSWCD), an agency of Warren County, and his staff are putting together for Up Yonda.

Up Yonda has nearly 70 acres of woods set on the east side of a hill that overlooks Lake George, the forest helping bring over 10,000 visitors to the property in 2024. The woods are home to trails for hiking and snowshoeing, support a maple sugaring operation and are used for a variety of environmental and educational programs.

Kristen Wilde, Up Yonda’s Environmental Education Administrator, had asked WCSWCD to assess the forest around Up Yonda when she observed some trends, including damage from emerald ash borers.

“I noticed we didn’t have a lot of young growth. We have a lot of old trees,” she said.

So at Wilde’s request, Lieberum and Maren Stoddard, Natural Resource Specialist with WCSWCD, are creating a Forest Management Plan to help guide Up Yonda forward.

That process has included visits to catalog the forest, during which Lieberum and Stoddard found:

  • 17 tree species on the grounds at Up Yonda.
  • The woodland basal area, which measures the cross-sectional area of trees at 4.5 feet, was 140 square feet per acre, indicating a high tree density.
  • Two tree species, eastern white pine and red maple, make up more than 60% of the trees on the property.
  • The property is home to invasive flora found around the region, such as bittersweet and garlic mustard.

Wilde said the hope is the forest management plan will help Up Yonda staff find ways to maximize sustainable use of the property

“This property has so much untapped potential,” she said.

With an estimated 8% of Warren County woodlots changing hands in recent years, it’s important that forest owners realize they need to look at the health of their lands, Lieberum explained. WCSWCD plans to hold a forestry management workshop for the public later this year.

“We are focused on forest health, to help small woodlot owners,” Lieberum said.