An educational series of walks and talks aimed at informing, engaging, and uniting community members of Cumberland and Chebeague Island around local climate issues that impact us all.
The series is offered in collaboration with Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust (CCLT), Sustainable Cumberland, ME, and the Chebeague Climate Action Team.
Sea Changes: Understanding and Preparing for Coastal Maine's Extreme Weather Event
Join us for this informative discussion on current and future coastal weather trends in Maine. Learn about what drives change in our climate, how it affected the recent destructive January storms, and how it might shape weather events in the future. Our featured speakers include a former professor of meteorology who lives on Chebeague Island and a coastal scientist who specializes in flood risk. They will also address what to consider in recovering from these extreme weather events, causes and predictions of sea level rise, and how tide gauges and community science can help manage risk.
Speakers:
Hannah Baranes is a coastal scientist in the Climate Center at Gulf of Maine Research Institute.
Bill Danielson taught meteorology, climate, and astronomy, retiring as professor emeritus from the University of Hartford. He lives on Chebeague Island.
Maine's Changing Bird Populations
Maine's avifauna (its birdlife) is undergoing rapid changes, largely due to dramatic shifts in the climate and the increased pace of development. Some birds are 'new on the scene' and others are disappearing. Other populations are increasing, while many more are decreasing. We'll look at some of the most familiar changes — from increasing Northern cardinals to disappearing evening grosbeaks — and discuss the hows, the whys, and what you can do to help our feathered friends.
Speaker:
Derek Lovitch and his wife Jeannette own and operate Freeport Wild Bird Supply, a retail store that caters to birders of all levels. The store serves as a vehicle for Derek to continue to share his enthusiasm for birding, birds, and bird conservation. He is the author of several birding books, and his birding throughout the state for the last 20 years has provided perspective on how rapidly Maine's bird populations are changing.
No registration required. Add this learning event to your digital calendar.
The State of Casco Bay: Climate Challenges and Solutions
Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom.
Every five years, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) takes a close look at conditions in Casco Bay, gathering information on the condition of Casco Bay and our region. Local data reveals obvious signs of climate change, such as warmer ocean temperatures and more severe storms. But climate interacts with other processes, from urbanization to introduction of marine species from around the globe, creating challenges for future planning. Learn from CBEP’s director about highlights from the latest State of the Bay report, including the importance of land conservation for water quality, interesting measurements of bay health such as eelgrass abundance, and the effects of ocean acidification on shellfish. He will also discuss how CBEP is working with towns on ways to make the bay and communities more resilient.
Speaker:
Curtis Bohlen, director of the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP), is an aquatic and wetland biologist with an interdisciplinary background in ecology, economics, and public policy.
Natural Solutions for Stabilizing Our Coastlines
Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom.
Learn about the role of nature-based coastal resilience solutions in combatting the effects of climate change in our communities. A representative of the Climate Ready Casco Bay project will talk about the process for developing a collaborative regional resilience plan to mitigate flood risks and manage erosion. This joint project, facilitated by the Greater Portland Council of Governments and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, is focusing on 11 Casco Bay communities, including Chebeague Island and Cumberland. We'll also hear from an expert in ecological restoration and coastal stabilization projects about his extensive on-the-ground experience helping land trusts, conservation commissions, and private landowners.
Speakers:
Sara Mills-Knapp works to position Greater Portland Council of Governments as a regional and statewide leader in climate-change mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
Seth Wilkinson is a certified ecological restoration practitioner and president of Wilkinson Ecological Design.
The Time is Now: Local Climate Action and Opportunities for Community Involvement
Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m.
In-person at Cumberland Town Hall
No registration required.
Join representatives of the Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust, Cumberland Lands and Conservation Commission’s Sustainability Subcommittee, Chebeague Climate Action Team, and Greely High School to learn about how these groups plan and collaborate to make our communities more resilient to climate change. The presenters will also discuss ways community members can join in these efforts.
Panelists:
Penny Asherman (CCLT), Denny Gallaudet (Cumberland Sustainability Subcommittee and MSAD51 School Board), Maya Shyevitch (Chebeague Climate Action Team), Tommy Leggatt-Barr (Greely High School)
No registration required. Add this learning event to your digital calendar.
Forest Resilience for the Future
Saturday, June 22 at 9:30 a.m. (Raindate: June 23)
In-person at Rines Forest
No registration required.
Join us for a walk and talk with our Maine Forest Service district forester and a wildlife ecologist from Maine Audubon to learn about how a warming climate is affecting our forests and how we can manage them to be more resilient and adaptive to those changes. The stunning Rines Forest in Cumberland will serve as our laboratory as we gain an understanding of trends in tree health, invasive plants, and wildlife populations. Our walk leaders will also provide information for landowners on how they can manage their forests to enhance fish and wildlife habitat, store more carbon, and be more resilient in the face of climate change.
Guides:
Shane Duigan is the District Forester for Maine Forest Service serving Cumberland, Androscoggin, and Sagadahoc counties.
Sally Stockwell is a wildlife ecologist who serves as Director of Conservation at Maine Audubon where she works on restoring endangered bird populations, engaging citizen scientists to collect data, community land use planning, aquatic and terrestrial habitat connections, and climate impacts to wildlife.
No registration required. Add this learning event to your digital calendar.
