Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management

Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (WNY PRISM) and Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) to host series of events for National Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 22^nd-26^th.

Invasive species - the term given to non-native organisms that become established and create ecological or economic problems in their new territories - are an ever-growing burden of global concern. National Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 21st - 27th, provides an opportunity to discuss and address this important issue. In partnership with WNY PRISM, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History will be hosting a series of public workshops and guest speakers to disseminate current, relevant information concerning the invasive species that have turned up in our region, and what can be done to reduce their negative impacts. Please join us at RTPI for any or all of the following events.

Daytime Workshops:

Tuesday February 23 from 10:00am-2:30pm Forest Pest Workshop

Invasive forest pests are a growing issue throughout our region, necessitating ongoing efforts to learn more about these organisms and the best course of action to minimize their impact. This day-long workshop will address forest pests including the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). Topics will include actions that can be taken to save trees, the “do’s and don’ts” of treatment and tree removal, what can be planted when trees are removed, liability associated with forest pests, and the roles of the NYS DEC and WNY EAB Task Force in remediating the impacts of these invasive organisms.  The following professionals will be delivering talks to share their expertise and experience:

·         Sharon Bachman-Community Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Erie County

·         Mark Whitmore- Forest Entomologist, Cornell University

·         Craig Vollmer-Chief Forester and Certified Arborist, Forecon Inc.

·         Jeff Brockelbank-Senior Forester, New York State DEC.

Thursday February 25 from 10:00am-2:30pm Aquatic Invasives Workshop
Chautauqua County sits on the continental divide between two major watersheds; the water leaving our region either flows towards the Gulf of Mexico (via the Allegheny, Ohio-Mississippi Watershed) or towards the northern Atlantic Ocean (via the Great Lakes Watershed). Maintaining water quality in our region is therefore especially critical Aquatic invasive species can pose a major threat to water quality, and to the biodiversity within aquatic ecosystems.  This day-long workshop will address the aquatic invasive species that burden Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, and other local waterways. Participants will also be introduced to iMapInvasives, a database used to track the progress of invasive species. The following professionals will be delivering talks to share their expertise and experience:

·         Ruth Lundin-President, Jamestown Audubon Society

·         Jane Conroe-Conservationist, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy

·         Stacy Furgal-Fish Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service

·         Elyse Henshaw-Conservation Technician, Roger Tory Peterson Institute

If you would like to attend either of these workshops, please download and complete the registration form (http://rtpi.org/events-exhibits/upcoming-events/) or contact Elyse Henshaw (ehenshaw@rtpi.org or 716-665-2473 ext. 231) no later than Saturday February 20th. Please note that there will be a fee of $10 for adults and $8 for currently enrolled students to cover the cost of lunch and workshop materials.

Evening Events:

Monday February 22 - 6pm
Eco-logic: Using Native Plants in the Landscape ; Guest Lecture by Ken Parker
Ken Parker, a passionate indigenous horticulturalist, New York State Certified Landscape Professional (CNLP), and Seneca native, will discuss the importance of using native plants in landscaping as opposed to non-natives, as well as the Seneca Nation Native Plant Policy that went into effect last year.

Wednesday February 24 - 6pm
Invasive Species Management: Picking battles large enough to matter and small enough to win;
Webinar with Norris Muth of Juniata College
With these invasive species posing more problems than can possibly all be solved at once, how can landowners decide when and how to act? We will discuss some ways to prioritize and make management decisions towards reducing the impact of invasive species. Norris will be calling in for the discussion portion of the webinar to answer questions from the audience. Norris’ bio can be found at http://www.juniata.edu/academics/provost/bio.php?id=MUTH

Friday February 26 - 6pm 
Birds and Invasives; Guest Lecture by Andrea Locke from WNY PRISM
The relationship between birds and invasive species can be complex.  Andrea Locke, WNY PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) Coordinator will shed some light on these complexities as she discusses invasive bird species, invasive species impacts on native bird populations and management strategies. Locke has spent over a decade working to maintain and restore native diversity in several different U.S. ecosystems.

All of these Evening Events are free and open to the public.

For more information on any of these events, please visit http://rtpi.org/events-exhibits/upcoming-events/ or contact Elyse Henshaw at ehenshaw@rtpi.org or 716-665-2473 ext. 231

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