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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260603T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260603T153000
DTSTAMP:20260815T124922
CREATED:20260508T121514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T121628Z
UID:310216-1780495200-1780500600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Behaviour Change Training: Supporting PlayCleanGo Outreach and Action
DESCRIPTION:In preparation for PlayCleanGo Week (June 6–13)\, Invasives Canada\, in partnership with the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA)\, is hosting a behaviour change training webinar to help partners strengthen their outreach and engagement efforts through the PlayCleanGo program. \n\n\n\nCreating awareness is an important first step\, but lasting conservation impact requires motivating people to take action. This webinar will explore behavioural psychology\, community-based social marketing strategies\, and practical approaches for encouraging stewardship behaviours that help prevent the spread of invasive species. Participants will also learn how these concepts are being applied through the PlayCleanGo program\, with insights and tools that can be adapted to a wide range of conservation and outreach initiatives. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKen Donnelly\, Executive Director\, Invasives CanadaFor more than thirty years\, Ken Donnelly has combined research and behavioural psychology to foster positive individual behaviours in environmental conservation. For more than 12 years\, his focus has been primarily on the human dimension of invasive species. Ken is a researcher\, strategist\, trainer\, and speaker.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/behaviour-change-training-supporting-playcleango-outreach-and-action/
CATEGORIES:PlayCleanGo®,Webinars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260608T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260608T140000
DTSTAMP:20260815T124922
CREATED:20260508T120607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T121735Z
UID:310211-1780923600-1780927200@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Saving the Sagebrush Sea: Protecting Washington's Sagebrush Biome from Noxious Weeds
DESCRIPTION:How one idea to protect the fragile shrub-steppe ecosystem from noxious weeds led to a multi-jurisdictional collaboration statewide. Come learn how the Washington Invasive Species Council built numerous partnerships focused on noxious weed prevention. Working closely with the PlayCleanGo campaign\, these efforts led to the installation of more than 50 educational boot brush stations in Washington. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is being presented as part of PlayCleanGo Awareness Week\, a collaborative initiative led in partnership with NAISMA\, Invasives Canada\, CONABIO\, and partners across North America to help prevent the spread of invasive species. To learn more\, visit PlayCleanGo.org.  \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJan Fore\, Executive Coordinator\, Washington Invasive Species CouncilJan is the Executive Coordinator for the Washington Invasive Species Council. She previously served as a public affairs role working with the National Wildlife Refuge System for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jan also brings invasive species experience from the opposite corner of the US\, where\, she worked at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission\, coordinating with multiple agencies\, the public\, and stakeholders to provide invasive species outreach and education. She managed statewide programs including the Exotic Pet Amnesty Program\, Python Patrol\, and the Florida Python Challenge.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/saving-the-sagebrush-sea-protecting-washingtons-sagebrush-biome-from-noxious-weeds/
CATEGORIES:PlayCleanGo®,Webinars
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260610T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260610T140000
DTSTAMP:20260815T124922
CREATED:20260518T123523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T123555Z
UID:310291-1781096400-1781100000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:What's on Your Boots? Seeds\, Invasive Species\, and Landscape-Level Patterns from Boot Brush Stations at Elk Island National Park
DESCRIPTION:Seed dispersal is a natural process that helps keep ecosystems healthy and resilient. However\, when people visit parks\, they can unknowingly carry seeds on their boots—including seeds from invasive plants—which can change what grows where. Programs like PlayCleanGo help reduce this risk by encouraging visitors to clean their gear and by providing opportunities to educate visitors and monitor seed movement. In this talk\, we’ll share results from a pilot study using PlayCleanGo boot brush stations at Elk Island National Park. We found that visitors can carry up to 4\,000 viable seeds in just one litre of soil\, with more than 30\,000 viable seeds collected at boot brush stations over a single summer. In total\, 57 plant species were identified—about half of which were only found through visitor dispersal—and more than 50% were non-native. Notably\, visitor-dispersed seeds were consistent across trailheads and independent of visitor volume\, highlighting that visitor activity can actively homogenize the landscape and drive significant ecological change. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is being presented as part of PlayCleanGo Awareness Week\, a collaborative initiative led in partnership with NAISMA\, Invasives Canada\, CONABIO\, and partners across North America to help prevent the spread of invasive species. To learn more\, visit PlayCleanGo.org. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCharlotte Brown is an Ecologist Team Lead at Parks Canada\, based at Elk Island National Park and an Adjunct Professor in the Biological Sciences Department at the University of Alberta. Her work focuses on invasive plant management\, bison management\, ecological monitoring\, and supporting evidence-based decision-making to maintain ecosystem health. Charlotte completed her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of Alberta\, where her research examined species interactions and the processes shaping native grassland communities. She has since held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Arizona and Université de Sherbrooke\, where she studied long-term vegetation change and responses to global change. Her current work bridges science and management\, applying ecological research to real-world conservation challenges in Canada’s protected areas.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/whats-on-your-boots-seeds-invasive-species-and-landscape-level-patterns-from-boot-brush-stations-at-elk-island-national-park/
CATEGORIES:PlayCleanGo®,Webinars
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260612T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260612T150000
DTSTAMP:20260815T124922
CREATED:20260518T121926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T111330Z
UID:310281-1781272800-1781276400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Communicating strategies for the prevention of IAS in two countries in Latin America
DESCRIPTION:Invasive species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide and different countries have taken different approaches to communicating this to society taking into account culture\, language\, and local traditions. Let’s hear about two countries in Latin America\, Mexico\, part of NAISMA\, and Chile\, on the other side of the continent and learn about the differences and similarities in tackling this common problem. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is being presented as part of PlayCleanGo Awareness Week\, a collaborative initiative led in partnership with NAISMA\, Invasives Canada\, CONABIO\, and partners across North America to help prevent the spread of invasive species. To learn more\, visit PlayCleanGo.org. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSergio Benavides Avendaño is a natural resource conservation engineer with a master’s degree in biodiversity\, protected areas\, and biological invasions. He is the co-founder of Naturaleza Intrusa (Intrusive Nature)\, a science outreach initiative focused on biological invasions\, which has organized the Week on Biological Invasions in Chile since 2019. Since 2023\, he has worked in the invasive alien species management program at the Ministry of the Environment. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYolanda Barrios is the head of the department of invasive species at the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) in Mexico where she has worked for almost 20 years. She brings together her knowledge on invasive species and studies in science communication in workshops and talks for the general public and other stakeholders in different sectors. \n\n\n\n\n\n*Language Notice: This webinar will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles available. We encourage participants from across North America to join us as we explore invasive species communication strategies and perspectives from Latin America.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/communicating-strategies-for-the-prevention-of-ias-in-two-countries-in-latin-america/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,PlayCleanGo®,Webinars
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260617T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260617T140000
DTSTAMP:20260815T124922
CREATED:20260226T133551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T133844Z
UID:137971-1781701200-1781704800@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Starry Trek: Mobilizing Volunteers for Early Detection of Aquatic Invasive Species
DESCRIPTION:Since 2017\, Minnesota’s Starry Trek Program has demonstrated how coordinated volunteer engagement can significantly expand early detection capacity for aquatic invasive species. Originally launched as a statewide effort to search for starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa)\, an invasive freshwater green alga that can form dense mats and disrupt lake ecosystems\, Starry Trek has grown into a successful model for large scale\, volunteer powered surveillance. Each year\, hundreds of trained participants survey public water accesses across the state\, contributing to the discovery of new infestations of starry stonewort and other priority aquatic invasive species. In this webinar\, we will explore how Starry Trek was built\, how it has evolved over time\, and what lessons have emerged from organizing a recurring\, statewide volunteer detection event. Participants will gain insight into the partnerships\, coordination strategies\, and program design considerations that have allowed Starry Trek to scale while maintaining scientific credibility and management impact. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMegan Weber\, Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center/University of Minnesota Extension \n\n\n\nMegan Weber is an Extension Professor at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center and University of Minnesota Extension. Megan’s work focuses on the development and delivery of AIS education\, volunteer\, and citizen science programs that work towards solutions to aquatic invasive species problems. A native Minnesotan\, Megan studied marine biology in California and received her B.S. from University of California Santa Cruz and her M.S. in environmental studies from San Jose State University.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-starry-trek-mobilizing-volunteers-for-early-detection-of-aquatic-invasive-species/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260622T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260622T170000
DTSTAMP:20260815T124922
CREATED:20260617T133710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T134119Z
UID:310634-1782144000-1782147600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB\, Oryctes rhinoceros) has established a foothold in the Americas
DESCRIPTION:The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) Oryctes rhinoceros is endemic to Asia where the adult beetles feed on palms by boring into the growing point\, damaging emerging fronds and in extreme cases\, killing the palm. Larvae develop on dead palm trunks and rotting organic matter organic matter creating a close association between the beetle and its host. Through shipping and trade CRB has been introduced to the Pacific islands where\, in the absence of natural enemies\, it has become a severe pest of coconuts and other palms affecting economic development and livelihoods requiring control actions. CRB has spread in distinct waves through Polynesia\, Melanesia and\, in the current century\, to Micronesia and the Hawaiian islands. Interisland spread over long distances has been made possible through shipping and air links. In 2022 photos of suspected CRB were posted on iNaturalist and social media photos indicated the distinctive damage of CRB. A visit to the site\, with collection of specimens and analysis confirmed presence of the pest. In the webinar\, we will describe the process of discovery and the use of citizen science and social media to provide early indicators of pest invasion. We will discuss the current situation of CRB in Mexico and the potential for damage and economic losses should it enter the Caribbean basin and tropical Americas. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is being presented in partnership by the Pacific Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network (Pacific RISCC) and NAISMA. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Trevor Jackson\, MAF/AgResearch\, New ZealandDr. Trevor Jackson has spent his career on biocontrol and IPM with MAF/AgResearch based in Aotearoa/New Zealand working on a variety of projects. He has worked on CRB over 30 years in Asia and the Pacific specializing in incorporating the biocontrol Oryctes virus into IPM systems. He recently helped develop the “Strategic Action Plan for Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Management and Containment across Pacific Island Countries and Territories” working paper produced by members of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Working Group at the 2022 Pacific Ecological Security Conference (PESC)\, held in Palau 2022\, assisted the Papua New Guinea CRB Task Force confront the current CRB invasion in the NZ MFAT funded “Pacific Response to Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle” and worked with Women in Business Development in Samoa to reduce impact of CRB on coconut supply chains. He remains involved in current programs to limit the spread and reduce damage from CRB and identified the current outbreak in Mexico. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Sulav Paudel\, Bioeconomy Science Institute\, New ZealandDr. Sulav Paudel is a Senior Scientist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI)\, New Zealand\, specializing in biosecurity\, invasion ecology\, and pest risk assessment. He has extensive experience across the Pacific\, South Asia\, and Southeast Asia\, working on invasive pests including the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. His work focuses on invasion dynamics\, risk assessment\, surveillance\, and biosecurity response\, integrating field data\, spatial modelling\, and decision-support tools to strengthen pest management and prevention. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMiguel Nájera-Rincón\, UNIFAP/UNAM\, MexicoMiguel Nájera-Rincón is a specialist on biocontrol from UNIFAP/UNAM\, Mexico. He has worked on the complex of beetles attacking maize in Mexico and is an expert on the Mexican Scarabaeidae. Miguel was a partner in discovery and confirmation of CRB in Mexico.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-coconut-rhinoceros-beetle-crb-oryctes-rhinoceros-has-established-a-foothold-in-the-americas/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
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