Mycoevolve

How are forests enduring, changing and adapting amidst today’s diseases? Sharing a window into a new project colleague Kevin Melman of FunJshrooming and I via MycoEvolve began this week: Gathering Baseline Fungal Data in Red Oak Hardwood Forests with and without Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) in UVM Jericho Research Forest. They both already have the Beach Bark Disease but BLD is even more devastating. While already behind in baseline data for fungal populations (since disease is well on its way in one forest), we are grateful to receive Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research and a Waterwheel Foundation Awards to began this survey, which is documented in an INaturalist project: inaturalist.org/project…. Mycologists are welcome to contribute to our ID process while we wait for DNA analysis on our preliminary efforts applying old school methodologies of field guides, morphology, spore prints, basic microscopy... So far in our first survey we gathered over 94 species. This data will contribute to VT Fungal Scientific Advisory group’s aims and newly established Fungi Atlas via collaboration with Forest Ecosystem Monitoring and VT Center for EcoStudies Vt Atlas of Life val.vtecostudies.org/pr… Stay tuned!

“People work within their silos and within their little corners. Folks don’t always have the capacity to build bridges of solidarity and connection,” said Aguilar-Izzo. “The beautiful thing we’ve seen is renewed collaborations between different organizations.”

Finding the balance between stretching our capacity to grow connections (learn about, show up! and support colleagues/potential collaborators) and tending our post deeply (with self care/family/rest time to restore) continues to be an edge guiding orientation. Neat to see this conundrum named. Finding the sweet spot is part of the work!

Bridging watersheds: Storytelling connects activists, communities across borders In the heart of the Akwesasne community, people gathered for a storytelling circle, focused on conversation around environmental issues.