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Lower Hudson PRISM Invasive Species Summit: Challenges, Strategies, and Perspectives

Date: 
Friday, November 6, 2015 - 10:00am to 4:00pm
Location: 
The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458

November 6, 2015 at The New York Botanical Garden 

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity worldwide and are severely impacting our regional ecosystems. The Invasive Species Summit will address the impacts of invasive species from a global to regional level: what is being done to manage them, how restoring ecosystems can help, and implications for the future. The morning plenary session will host prominent speakers in the fields of invasion biology, restoration ecology, and not-for-profit land management. The New York Botanical Garden has partnered with the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) (www.lhprism.org) to host this event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda

9:00 Doors Open, Registration and Coffee 

10:00 Welcome

10:30 Daniel Simberloff, Biological invasions: What do they do, what can we do about them, and why are they controversial?

11:10 Chris Zimmerman, Developing effective strategies to mitigate invasive species impacts in eastern New York forests.

11:50 Steven Handel, Restoration targets in a changing biotic landscape.

12:30 pm Morning Plenary Conclusion

Afternoon Concurrent Sessions (2:00-4:00pm)

Session 1: Conserving Biodiversity

Moderated by: Erik Kiviat

The Lower Hudson PRISM protects the rich, native biodiversity of the Lower Hudson Valley by focusing on priority targets for conservation. This session will consist of short-talks on topics related to conserving biodiversity in the Lower Hudson Region followed by a panel discussion. Selected short talks include:

  1. "Nonnative species threats to rare native plants in Hudson River tidal wetlands", Erik Kiviat, Hudsonia Ltd.
  2. “How do predator-promoting invasive plants affect native communities?” Lauren M. Smith, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
  3. “Ash seed collection as an emerald ash borer management tool”, Molly Marquand, Mid-Atlantic Regional Seedbank
  4. “Assessing and preparing for plant invasion facilitation by pest insect invasions: results and management implications of studies of viburnum leaf beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, and emerald ash borer”, Radka Wildova, Ecological Research Institute

Session 2: Current and Emerging Threats

Moderated by: Linda Rohleder and Daniel Atha  

Preventing invasions is the most efficient method to managing invasive species and protecting the rich, native biodiversity of the Lower Hudson region. Through hands-on research and surveys, early detection and rapid response is possible. This session will consist of short-talks on topics related to current and emerging threats to the Lower Hudson Region followed by a panel discussion. Selected short talks include:

  1. “Emerging Invasive Species in the Lower Hudson Region”, Linda Rohleder, New York New Jersey Trail Conference and LH PRISM.
  2. “Incised Fumewort (Corydalis incisa) invasive in North America”, Daniel Atha, The New York Botanical Garden.
  3. “Distribution of Nitellopsis obtusa in New York, U.S.A.”, Robin Sleith, The New York Botanical Garden
  4. “Evidence for evolution in glyphosate tolerance, but not resistance, based on history of exposure to the herbicide in Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) in New York”, Acer VanWallendael, Fordham University.

Session 3: Strategic Invasive Species Management and Restoration Practice

Moderated by: Helen Forgione and Jessica A. Schuler 

The Lower Hudson PRISM supports and optimizes regional conservation through strategic invasive species management and promoting restoration practice. Data driven management and restoring ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed are a part of the toolkit for successful invasive species management. This session will consist of short-talks on topics related to strategic invasive species management and restoration practice in the Lower Hudson Region followed by a panel discussion. Selected short talks include:

  1. “Urban Forest Assessment: Providing a Framework for Regional Prioritization”, Helen Forgione, Natural Areas Conservancy
  2. “Restoring a 50 acre, Urban Old growth Forest”, Jessica A. Schuler, The New York Botanical Garden
  3. “Restoring maritime forest for songbirds in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge,” Lauren Alleman, The Nature Conservancy
  4. “Strategic management of plant invasions for ecosystem impacts: insights from a Microstegium vimineum invasion along a logged chronosequence”, Noah Sokol, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
  5. “Collaborative mile-a-minute management: stories from the northern frontier”, Nate Nardi-Cyrus, Scenic Hudson.

Session 4: Education and Outreach

Moderated by: Carol Capobianco

Engaging new audiences and delivering education that communicates the positive impacts of invasive species management on ecosystems and clear steps for action on personal and community levels is key for successful regional conservation and invasive species management. This session will consist of short-talks on topics related to education and outreach on invasive species and conservation in the Lower Hudson Region followed by a panel discussion. Selected short talks include:

  1. “Invasive species & Grass-roots activism”, Carolynn Sears, The Invasives Project-Pound Ridge
  2. “The Invaders Board Game”, George Profous, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
  3. “A New Guide to Restoring Forests”, Jennifer Greenfeld, NYC Parks and Recreation

 

 

Registration is open to all.  PRISM partners register at member rates.  Registration includes parking, grounds admission and discount in the shop and cafes.  Visit the Registration page to reserve your place for the morning session and your choice of optional afternoon workshops.

Register here:  http://www.nybg.org/science/invasive-species-summit.php