From Chuck Bargeron of University of Georgia Extension, via the Aliens list serve. Apologies for cross-posting.
2016 National Invasive Species Awareness Week - Webinars
Monday, February 22 - Thursday, February 25
Hosted by: National Association of Invasive Plant Councils
See www.nisaw.org for more information on the weeks events
Monday, February 22, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Let's take a hack at hack and squirt individual plant treatments
Presenter: Stephen Enloe, Associate Professor, Agronomy Department/Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida
Abstract: “Hack and squirt” is an individual plant treatment technique widely used for woody invasive plants across the United States. The basic method involves making a series of cuts around the circumference of a tree and immediately applying a concentrated herbicide solution into the cuts. As simple as this seems, there is tremendous diversity among researchers and land managers in exactly what is meant and what is done with this technique. In reality, hack and squirt may entail labor intensive girdling type cuts, overlapping frill cuts, injection for evenly spaced cuts, and a myriad of tools to accomplish these methods. We will review different types of hack and squirt treatments, tools, and herbicides used. We will also discuss selectivity, herbicide flashback, and how hack and squirt techniques compare to other IPT methods. Get ready for a fun and informative lecture, and let's take a hack at hack and squirt!
Biography: Dr. Stephen Enloe has been involved with invasive plant research and extension for the past 19 years. He has worked throughout the western and southeastern United States, including California, Colorado, Wyoming, Alabama, and now Florida. Over the last eight years, Dr. Enloe has worked extensively on cogongrass, Chinese privet, Chinese tallowtree, Japanese climbing fern, Chinaberry tree, and a host of other invasive plants. He has also recently worked in the area of bioenergy with an emphasis on preventing potential bioenergy species from becoming the next big invader.
Dr. Enloe earned his Ph.D at UC Davis in Plant Biology under Joe DiTomaso, a Master's degree in weed science from Colorado State University under Scott Nissen, and an undergraduate degree in Agronomy from NC State.
Tuesday, February 23, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Volunteers Make a Difference in an Early Detection Rapid Response Citizen Science Program
Presenter: Julie K. Combs, PNW IPC (Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council), Seattle, WA
Abstract: After prevention, Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) is the most effective method to control the establishment and spread of new populations of invasive plants. Invasive species management is often constrained by time and resources. In 2012, the Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council (PNW IPC) developed an EDRR Citizen Science Invasive Plant Program in order to support county, state and federal management agencies working to locate and eradicate invasive species in Washington State. To date the PNW IPC's EDRR program has trained over 260 Citizen Scientists to identify target EDRR species and conduct surveys in natural areas on county, state and federal public lands in Washington and Oregon State. We will present how our volunteers have made measurable progress in the effort to detect report and eradicate priority invasive plants from public lands since 2012. We will also present other metrics of success, challenges and lesson learned.
Biography: Since 2012, Dr. Julie Combs has served as director for the PNW IPC's regional “boots-on-the-ground” Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Citizen Science Program. Julie earned both her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Ecology and Conservation from the University of Washington. In Washington and Oregon her research focused on invasive species and rare plant ecology conservation and management. She was awarded an NSF- IGERT fellowship during her doctoral work that allowed her to travel to South Africa, China and Chile to work with international researchers on problems in the field of pollination biology and evolution. In China, she engaged in an interdisciplinary study examining how socio-eco-political factors affect plant biodiversity in Jiuzhaigou National Park, China. She has published her research in journals such as Ecological Applications, American Journal of Botany and the American Naturalist. She has taught numerous courses related to ecology, conservation and management at the University of Washington and is happiest when working on applied conservation problems.
Wednesday, February 24, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Presenters: Doug Johnson, Executive Director, and Elizabeth Brusati, Sr. Scientist (California Invasive Plant Council), LeeAnne Mila, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner (El Dorado County Agriculture Dept.), Ed King, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner (Placer County Agriculture Dept.), Joel Trumbo, Sr. Environmental Scientist (California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife)
Abstract: California's Sierra Nevada mountain range is valued for its wildlife habitat and natural beauty as well as its timber resources and role in the state's water supply. Due to its remoteness and climatic extremes, the Sierra has been less affected by invasive plants than most other areas of the state. With increasing development and recreational pressures as well as a warming climate, this is changing. Local organizations across the region teamed with the nonprofit California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) to develop strategic priorities for addressing the spread of invasive plants at the landscape level with targeted management projects. Supporting ecological resiliency to climate change is a fundamental objective of this effort, and was integrated into project design. We present the invasive plant management work in the Sierra, and draw lessons about how practitioners can integrate climate resiliency into their projects.
Thursday, February 25, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
Treating Firewood is a Hot Topic: seasoning, solarizing, kiln drying, and heat treatment
Presenter: Leigh Greenwood, Don't Move Firewood campaign manager, The Nature Conservancy
Abstract: Unfortunately, firewood is a common vector for the spread of many forest and tree pests throughout North America. Join us for a combined NISAW and Firewood Outreach Coordinating Initiative webinar discussing the various effective (and potentially ineffective) ways that firewood is treated in order to prevent the spread of forest pests. We will bring in experts from the private sector and USDA APHIS to talk about their efforts to slow the spread of invasive species through better firewood treatment. Comparisons of low energy treatments such as debarking, seasoning, soaking, and solarizing will be contrasted with heat treatment at various levels.
Biography: Leigh Greenwood began working on issues of forest pests in North America for The Nature Conservancy in 2007. She launched the Don't Move Firewood campaign and Firewood Outreach Coordinating Initiative, and is an active member of the Firewood Scout working group. Learn more about these programs athttp://dontmovefirewood.org/, http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/blog/firewood-outreach-professionals-newsletter.html, and http://firewoodscout.org/ , respectively. She holds a Masters of Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, Missoula, where she studied the interactions between native birds and established biological control organisms on the landscape.
Thursday, February 25, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Weed Wrangle: A Template for Engaging Local Communities through Citywide Invasive Plant Events
Presenter: Steven Manning, President, Invasive Plant Control, Inc.
Abstract: Inspired by national and international efforts now underway, Weed Wrangle Nashville represents a fresh new push to stem the tide of biological pollution in local communities. The goal is two-fold: restoration and preservation. Organizers seek to raise awareness of the “green scourge” before more of our native plants lose the fight for the light and nutrients they require to survive. The Garden Club of Nashville, a member of The Garden Club of America, and GCA members from Chattanooga, Memphis and Knoxville are working hard to pull in other local groups to establish a corps of organized resistance to this blight on our environment. Friends of Warner Parks, Greenways for Nashville and the Radnor Lake State Natural Area are just a few of the partners now backing Weed Wrangle Nashville. The first annual Weed Wrangle was held in Nashville, TN during the 2015 National Invasive Species Awareness Week. This event acted as a template for other cities in the United States to engage local communities to pull together to learn about and manage invasive plants. Steven Manning will discuss the financing, staffing, PR and goals behind this project including 10 sites (from elementary schools to the Nashville Zoo) that created a circle of natural areas around the greater Nashville area. The 2016 event has spread statewide and the event sponsors envision this being a national event within two years.
Biography: Steven Manning has spent the past 24 years working on invasive species. He is the current President of the Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council, Vice President of the Mid Atlantic Invasive Plant Council, co-chair of the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association's Invasive Species Working Group and serves on the board of the North Carolina Invasive Plant Council. He is also the founder and President of Invasive Plant Control, Inc. (IPC) www.invasiveplantcontrol.com. IPC was created to extend internationally its dedication to the control of invasive species utilizing a revised Integrated Pest Management approach and has successfully controlled hundreds of invasive species for a wide variety of land managers including federal, state, municipal and private landowners throughout the world. Mr. Manning also designs and implements multiple training courses and workshops worldwide with topics ranging from “Invasive Species in Ports of Entry” to “On the Ground Control Techniques.” IPC invests heavily in educational and awareness activities annually and is also heavily involved with local, state and international industry development projects including Volunteer Based Early Detection Networks. In 2012, IPC introduced a suite of software and web based tools dedicated to environmental needs. He is also a co-author on the publication; Miller, J.H.: Manning, S.; Enloe, S.F. 2010 “A field guide for the management of invasive plants in southern forests” published by the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. (http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/36915 http://wiki.bugwood.org/Invplantmgmt).