"Lost Forests of New England" film in Newtown, CT

 

 Blackgum Trees, ca 500 years old

Newtown, CT, celebrates Earth Day, and this year they're featuring a documentary film festival. To launch the festival, they've chosen to present our old-growth forest film The Lost Forests of New England on Thursday, April 20, 2023. 

The film depicts what our primeval central New England forests looked like before European settlement 400 years ago, and what their status is today.

The agricultural phenomenon known as "sheep fever," which was responsible for rapid wholesale clearing of our original central New England forests, is described by noted ecologist and author Tom Wessels. Harvard Forest scientists David Foster, David Orwig, and Neil Pederson are also featured in the film, as are Tony D'Amato (University of Vermont), Peter Dunwiddie (University of Washington, formerly with MA Audubon), and Joan Maloof (founder of the Old Growth Forest Network). Old-growth forest expert Bob Leverett ties the story together, having played a central role in the discovery and documentation of many remnant old growth stands.
 

Old-growth Yellow Birch

Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with filmmaker Ray Asselin, and Susan Masino, who is a Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College and the Hartford County Coordinator for the Old Growth Forest Network.

The event will be held in the Alexandria Room of the historic Edmond Town Hall at 7pm. Admission is free and open to the public.