BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//NAISMA - ECPv6.15.17//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://naisma.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NAISMA REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20220313T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20221106T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20230312T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20231105T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250618T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250618T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20250417T121817Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T122203Z UID:125935-1750251600-1750255200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Invasive Freshwater Jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) in North American lakes DESCRIPTION:Many people have recently noticed small jellyfish floating around in summer in lakes. These are mostly a single invasive species known officially as Craspedacusta sowerbii or sometimes as the Peach-blossom jellyfish. If you have noticed them\, you may think you are seeing things\, but they are probably real. I will discuss what we know about this invasive species in North American lakes and why they are being noticed more and more often. While scientists still have a lot to learn about these organisms\, I will discuss in this webinar the knowledge we currently have\, providing some insight into their life histories and ecology\, as well as how they might be affecting food webs in our lakes. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Beatrix Beisner is Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Québec at Montréal (UQAM). Completing her PhD at the University of British Columbia in 2000\, she has over 30 years of experience in limnology. Her research interests are focused on lake ecology\, plankton community dynamics\, spatial ecology\, functional traits and biodiversity. She works with both phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in freshwater habitats using empirical\, experimental\, and modelling approaches. Dr. Beisner is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Plankton Research (Oxford University Press) and she was Director/Co-Director of the Interuniversity Research Group in Limnology in Québec (GRIL) from 2015 to March 2025. She has co-edited 3 books and has published over 130 journal articles. In 2023 she was the recipient of the Frank Rigler Award\, the highest honour in her field from the Society for Canadian Aquatic Sciences. \n\n\n\nORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6972-6887 URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-invasive-freshwater-jellyfish-craspedacusta-sowerbii-in-north-american-lakes/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/jelly.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250521T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250521T143000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20250320T161505Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250518T224545Z UID:125701-1747832400-1747837800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Beyond Buckthorn: Innovative Strategies for Invasive Control and Habitat Restoration DESCRIPTION:Invasive buckthorn continues to threaten native ecosystems\, but new and creative management approaches are showing promising results. This webinar will explore cutting-edge strategies to control and replace buckthorn\, including the Cover It Up program\, which utilizes native plantings to suppress regrowth\, targeted goat grazing\, and the use of fungal pathogens to weaken buckthorn populations. Join experts as they share research-backed insights\, real-world applications\, and success stories from the field. Whether you’re a land manager\, conservationist\, or homeowner\, this session will equip you with practical tools to restore habitat and reclaim invaded landscapes. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nUsing plants to control buckthornPresented by Dr. Mike Schuster\, University of MinnesotaThe Cover It Up project evaluates novel approaches to controlling invasive buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and improving forest understory resilience. Since the project started in 2016\, we have found how establishing dense cover of native plants immediately following management can limit the abundance and vigor of returning buckthorn and suppress other invasive plants. In some cases\, this type of restoration planting can completely prevent buckthorn re-establishment. Our ongoing work continues to advance our understanding of which species to plant\, how to plant them\, which conditions favor their success\, and how these methods can be used in conjunction with other management strategies to fortify forests against invasion. \n\n\n\nSome things to chew on regarding goat browsing to control buckthorn Presented by Dr. Dan LarkinThe goal of invasive plant management is often to benefit native plants; however\, consequences of control actions on native vegetation are often not assessed. This is true with targeted grazing using livestock\, such as goats\, which is a rapidly expanding but little-studied method. Opinions among land managers vary widely regarding the potential effects of targeted goat browsing on native plants\, ranging from anticipating strong benefits to severe damage. To address this uncertainty\, we experimentally tested responses of deciduous-woodland understory plant communities to goat browsing for control of common buckthorn. The immediate and longer-term effects of goat browsing were quite different. Immediately after browsing\, there were striking reductions in buckthorn abundance and native plant communities. However\, one year later\, buckthorn and native plants alike had recovered. In fact\, native diversity was higher in the year following browsing\, perhaps due to reduced dominance by woody species. These results provide tentative support for goat browsing as a component of a broader woodland restoration strategy. They also caution against drawing conclusions from appearances immediately after browsing. Monitoring should continue for a minimum of one year following treatment and should address responses of both buckthorn and native plants. \n\n\n\nFungi Associated with Buckthorn as Prospects for BiocontrolRyan D. M. Franke and Robert A. Blanchette\, Department of Plant Pathology\, University of Minnesota\, Saint Paul\, MN\, USA 55108Common and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica & Frangula alnus) are invasive species that can form dense stands that displace native species and threaten natural forest habitats. Cutting buckthorn is labor intensive and resprouting occurs. Chemical methods for control of invasive buckthorn are effective but can negatively affect sensitive ecosystems. A few recent investigations have explored the potential of fungi as inundative biological control for invasive buckthorn; however\, this research has been narrow in scope\, focusing on two species of fungi\, Puccinia coronata var. coronata and Chondrostereum purpureum\, with varying degrees of efficacy. Our project objectives are to collect and test a broad range of native fungi for their potential use as agents of biological control. During the summers of 2023 and 2024 with the collaboration of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources\, we visited 19 sites across Minnesota and Wisconsin with dead and dying invasive buckthorn. 412 fungi were isolated from samples of diseased buckthorn tissue and identified via DNA extraction and sequencing. These fungi were identified as 120 unique taxa belonging to 81 genera. Of these fungi\, 42 species belonging to 26 genera are considered canker or root-rot pathogens of woody plants\, including species in: Aplosporella\, Cadophora\, Cylindrobasidium\, Cytospora\, Diaporthe\, Didymella\, Diplodia\, Dothiorella\, Erythricium\, Eutypella\, Fusarium\, Hymenochaete\, Irpex\, Mycoleptodiscus\, Nectria\, Nectriella\, Neocosmospora\, Nothophoma\, Paraconiothyrium\, Peniophora\, Pezicula\, Phaeoacemonium\, Phaeobotryon\, Ramularia\, Thyronectria\, and Xylaria. In addition to the fungi isolated from dead and dying buckthorn\, 9 other pathogenic fungal taxa isolated from non-buckthorn hosts in Minnesota are also being evaluated for their biocontrol potential. These isolates were inoculated into healthy common buckthorn in the greenhouse to assess their pathogenicity. Results from this pathogenicity experiment will be presented. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Mike Schuster works in the Department of Forest Resources\, University of Minnesota Twin Cities studying invasive plant species\, nutrient cycling\, and climate change. His current project is Cover It Up: using native plants to control buckthorn\, which investigates impacts of forest revegetation on buckthorn re-invasion. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Dan Larkin is a Professor & Extension Specialist in the Department of Fisheries\, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He and his research team work on applied challenges in ecological restoration and invasive plant management in terrestrial\, wetland\, and aquatic habitats. Through extension\, he trains volunteers and professionals to support ecological restoration and invasive species response efforts. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRyan Franke graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. He began cultivating fungi as a hobbyist in 2017. His interest in microbial science inspired him to gain employment with the biotech company\, TerraMax\, in 2020. Thereafter\, Ryan came to the University of Minnesota to work in the Department of Ecology. Currently\, Ryan is a graduate research assistant in the Blanchette Forest Pathology lab at the University of Minnesota studying the potential of using fungi to biologically control non-local buckthorn. In his free time\, Ryan enjoys playing soccer and spending time outdoors with his wife Alicia and 2-year-old son Malachi. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-beyond-buckthorn-innovative-strategies-for-invasive-control-and-habitat-restoration/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/iStock-21832391882.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250416T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250416T143000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20250124T131913Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250414T170953Z UID:124827-1744808400-1744813800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Spotted Lanternfly in North America: Insights\, Impacts\, and Preparing for the Future DESCRIPTION:Join us for a dynamic webinar featuring expert insights on the spotted lanternfly invasion in North America. Learn about the insect’s biology\, cold tolerance thresholds\, and the potential for northward expansion. Discover how Washington State is preparing for its arrival with a focus on cultural resource protection\, and explore a citizen science initiative preserving lanternfly specimens for future research. \n\n\n\nSpeakers:Julie Urban\, Penn State University\, Amanda Roe\, Natural Resources Canada\, Jessica La Belle\, Washington Invasive Species Council\, Michelle Duennes\, Saint Vincent College \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nTiming of female spotted lanternfly reproductive development across its present range in the US presented by Julie UrbanAs the spotted lanternfly expands its range in North America\, it is encountering temperatures that are potentially beyond the range of those used to date to model its seasonal activity. In warmer regions\, we hypothesize that heavy feeding and reproductive maturation are likely to occur earlier than in cooler regions\, and that this could translate into greater impact on host plants due to longer\, heavier feeding. We also hypothesize that in cooler regions\, reproductive maturation is likely to occur later than in warmer regions\, and could translate into less impact on host plants due to shorter durations of cumulative feeding. To test these hypotheses\, female adult spotted lanternfly were collected from each of four sites across the northern/southern extent of its current US range at multiple time points in the 2024 field season. Results obtained concerning the body mass of collected female adults showed mixed support for our hypotheses\, and demonstrate the importance of “ground truthing” model expectations with data from wild SLF populations. \n\n\n\nSurprising lower lethal limits of the invasive spotted lanternfly presented by Amanda RoeAmanda D Roe and Anna J TurbelinSpotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is invasive in North America. This species continues to spread beyond its initial infestation site and has established in over 18 states in the eastern USA. Cold winter temperatures are predicted to limit the northern spread of this species\, however the cold tolerance and lower thermal limits of this species have not been examined in the North American invaded range. We demonstrate that the egg masses (the overwintering stage of the spotted lanternfly) are surprisingly cold tolerant. We observed hatch after short and long term exposures to temperatures below -20C\, well below previously published thermal limits for the species. These results will be critical to inform future risk assessments and distribution modeling for this high risk invasive. \n\n\n\nCultural Impacts of the Spotted Lanternfly in Washington State presented by Jessica La BelleSpotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has not yet been detected in Washington State\, but Washington is taking a proactive approach and has recently completed the Spotted Lanternfly State Action Plan. This plan is unique in that it addresses the potential impacts of spotted lanternfly on culturally significant ethnobotanicals. \n\n\n\nThe Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive: a citizen science effort to track and study an invasive species presented by Michelle DuennesThis presentation will discuss the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive project\, which engages students and community members across several Pennsylvania counties to collect and preserve samples of the invasive spotted lanternfly. The archive supports future research on the species’ spread\, adaptation\, and evolution. The talk will highlight current progress in building the specimen collection and outline next steps. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Bios: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Julie Urban – Dr. Julie Urban is a Research Associate Professor in the Entomology Department at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the University at Albany. She studies planthopper evolution and their co-evolution with multiple bacterial and fungal symbionts. Her recent work involves aspects of basic and applied research on the invasive planthopper\, the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). She has been a member of USDA’s Technical Working Group of scientists\, advising management and research on the Spotted Lanternfly\, since it was first detected in the US in September\, 2014. Dr. Urban is the lead PI on a $7.3M regional USDA NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative grant studying the biology\, management\, reducing the impact of Spotted Lanternfly in specialty crops in the eastern USA. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Amanda Roe –  Dr. Amanda Roe is a Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre based in Sault Ste. Marie\, Ontario\, Canada. Her research team focuses on the evolutionary ecology of forest pests. They quantify the cold tolerance physiology and population genomics of invasive and native forest pests to characterize their history of spread and predict the risk of future establishments. This knowledge supports the management and regulation of high-risk pests\, informing risk assessments and forest management. Dr. Roe also provides scientific oversight to the Insect Production and Quarantine Laboratory\, an internationally recognized multi-species rearing facility that provides research-quality insects and insect diets to clients around the world. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJessica La Belle – Jessica is the Invasive Species Program Specialist for the Washington Invasive Species Council and facilitator for the multi-agency Spotted Lanternfly Preparedness Advisory Group. She has worked with a variety of invasive species from apple maggot to zebra mussels. Jessica was the primary public point of contact when the discoveryof northern giant hornet in Washington state became national news and a viral internet sensation. She assisted in the dissection of the first northern giant hornet nest found in the US\, and has been featured on the Discovery Channel\, RFD-TV\, and YouTube. She holdsa bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Alaska Anchorage\, and a Master’s in agricultural sciences and extension education from Colorado State University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Michelle Duennes – Dr. Michelle Duennes is an Associate Professor of Biology at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe\, Pennsylvania. She teaches General Biology II\, Ecology\, Evolution\, and Invertebrate Zoology. Her research focuses on bumble bee nutritional ecology and conservation genomics\, and now also spotted lanternfly invasion genetics. She is one of the co-founders of the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive\, a citizen science project where participants are encouraged to collect spotted lanternflies yearly to track how they move and adapt over time. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-spotted-lanternfly-in-north-america-insights-impacts-and-preparing-for-the-future/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/spot12323.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250319T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250319T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20250117T140540Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250222T180432Z UID:124730-1742389200-1742392800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Canadian Biocontrol Experience: Past\, Present and Future DESCRIPTION:Biological control efforts in Canada have a long history of success\, with the first programs targeting invasive agricultural pests in the 1930s. Canada’s first weed biocontrol program soon followed\, with herbivorous insects from Europe used to control St. John’s wort. In collaboration with British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests\, a long-time funder of biocontrol research in Canada\, we are now reevaluating Canada’s oldest weed biological programs\, to assess their contemporary efficacy (St. John’s wort\, spotted knapweed). We will discuss our findings in these old systems before turning to more recent programs that are successfully controlling invasive plants in Canada using agents that have not been available in the US (i.e. houndstongue). We will then highlight study systems that are in the earliest stages of on-the-ground biocontrol in Canada and show promise (i.e. garlic mustard)\, before discussing new options on the horizon for invasive plants of growing concern (parrot’s feather\, Tree of heaven – and its linkage to management efforts for the invasive pest insect\, spotted lanternfly). Together\, these study systems serve to outline Canada’s long\, successful and ongoing biological control programs for invasive plants that are concerns globally. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. David Ensing\, Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada \n\n\n\n Dr. David Ensing is a Research Scientist in Vegetation Ecology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Summerland\, BC\, Canada. His research interests focus on understanding the evolutionary ecology of species distributions. His research programme at AAFC includes weed biological control\, Indigenous food security and sovereignty\, rangeland ecology\, and vegetation management in managed and unmanaged agro-ecosystems. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Chandra Moffat\, Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada \n\n\n\nDr. Chandra Moffat is a Research Scientist in Entomology and Biological Control with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Her team conducts research to develop\, evaluate\, and improve classical/importation biological control programs for both invasive arthropod and invasive plant species that impact horticulture\, rangeland\, Indigenous food systems\, and natural areas. Her team uses integrative methods in field ecology\, natural history\, plant and insect taxonomy\, and molecular ecology (both DNA barcoding and population genomics) to develop new biological control solutions for invasive species management. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-canadian-biocontrol-experience-past-present-and-future/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Canadian.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250219T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250219T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20250117T141428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T124417Z UID:124737-1739970000-1739973600@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Green Crab Invasion: Coastal Perspectives DESCRIPTION:The European Green Crab is among the most successful invasive predators in coastal marine ecosystems\, with established populations on five continents. While this invasive species has long impacted the Atlantic coast\, its more recent arrival on the Pacific coast has resulted in rapid expansion\, stretching from California to Alaska. This webinar brings together expert speakers from New Hampshire Sea Grant\, Washington Sea Grant\, and the Metlakatla Indian Community in Alaska to provide a comprehensive look at the Green Crab’s ecological impacts\, monitoring\, and management efforts. Join us to explore how communities across both coasts are addressing the challenges posed by this prolific invader. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is being jointly hosted by NAISMA and Sea Grant. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\nTim Campbell\, Wisconsin Sea Grant/USFWS/Sea Grant AIS Liaison\n\n\n\nGabriela Bradt\, New Hampshire Sea Grant\n\n\n\nEmily Grason\, Washington Sea Grant\n\n\n\nIan Hudson\, Metlakatla Indian Community\n\n\n\n\nPresentations and Speaker Bios: \n\n\n\nThe New Hampshire Green Crab Project: Working on solutions to tame an invader – Presented by Dr. Gabriela BradtIn 2015\, in response to local lobstermen seeking assistance in dealing with green crabs in their traps\, NH Sea Grant and UNH Cooperative Extension initiated a multi-pronged approach to addressing the problem that included basic biological research\, market research and development\, and public engagement and education through participatory science. This long-running program has contributed significantly to how the Northeast is approaching green crab mitigation through science\, innovation\, and public engagement to tame and utilize a resource rather than seeking to eradicate a well-established invader. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGabriela Bradt\, Ph.D. – New Hampshire Sea GrantGabriela is a Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension State Specialist for New Hampshire Sea Grant and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Her programming and research is centered around seafood marketing\, market creation\, and consumer education and awareness about New Hampshire’s fisheries\, aquaculture\, and local seafood accessibility. Her research on invasive green crabs explores market development for a potential green crab fishery\, as well as soft-shell crab production. Additionally\, she leads citizen science programs looking at green crab population and distribution in coastal New Hampshire.Gabriela received a Ph.D. in Zoology from The University of New Hampshire in 2005\, and an M.A. in Biology from Bryn Mawr College in 2000. Since 2011 she has been involved in fisheries and aquaculture research and outreach. \n\n\n\n\n\nA Wide Net and a Deep Bench: Searching and monitoring for European green crab with community members – Presented by Dr. Emily GrasonAs green crab threatened to expand their foothold in Washington State in the early 2010s\, Washington Sea Grant partnered with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to launch a citizen science program for early detection. Community involvement set the stage in Washington not only for successful early detection\, but also for extraordinarily broad engagement across partner groups\, jurisdictions\, and institutions. WSG Crab Team now hosts two participatory science efforts related to green crab monitoring\, the flagship monitoring network and a newer more expansive program called Molt Search. Integrated with other components of Crab Team’s support for regional efforts\, such as capacity building and research\, these programs advance support for\, education on\, and efficacy of statewide efforts. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker: Emily Grason\, Ph.D. – Washington Sea GrantEmily Grason is a marine ecologist at Washington Sea Grant. As the lead for Crab Team\, she oversees a comprehensive program focused on monitoring and control of the European green crab. Starting with a flagship citizen science early detection monitoring network ten years ago\, the program has expanded to support Washington’s technical needs related to green crab management\, including research and capacity building among managers and trappers. \n\n\n\nEmily holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington\, completed her master’s work at Western Washington University\, and her undergraduate work at Bowdoin College. She really enjoys walking in\, on\, and through Washington’s muddy\, salty places\, and sometimes remembers to look up for birds. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nManaging the First European Green Crab Invasion in Alaska – Presented by Ian HudsonIn 2020\, the Metlakatla Department of Fish and Wildlife began monitoring for the invasive European Green Crab. In 2022 the first live EGC specimen was confirmed on Annette Islands Reserve in southern Southeast Alaska\, the first one to be discovered in the state of Alaska. Since the confirmation of the first EGC on AIR\, the MICDFW has conducted extensive trapping efforts to manage this invasive species. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker: Ian Hudson\, Metlakatla Department of Fish and WildlifeIan Hudson is a tribal member of the Metlakatla Indian Community and works as the Fisheries Biologist and European Green Crab Coordinator for the Metlakatla Department of Fish and Wildlife since June 2024. Prior to working for MICDFW\, Ian worked at Metlakatla High School for the last 10 years\, 6 of which he was a science teacher. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-green-crab-invasion-coastal-perspectives/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crab2323.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241016T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241016T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240213T194716Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240814T190041Z UID:122034-1729083600-1729087200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: White-Nose Syndrome and Bats DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jonathan Reichard and Jeremy Coleman\, White-Nose Syndrome Response Team\, USFWS \n\n\n\nWhite-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease that affects hibernating bats\, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). This fungus thrives in cold\, dark\, and damp environments\, attacking the bare skin of bats during their hibernation. As it grows\, it disrupts their hibernation patterns\, causing them to burn through the fat reserves needed to survive the winter. The result is often fatal\, with millions of bats in North America already lost to this disease. WNS is especially concerning because bats play a critical role in ecosystems\, particularly in controlling insect populations. Additionally\, people can unknowingly spread the Pd fungus when they move from one location to another without properly cleaning their gear. This makes it crucial to clean and disinfect shoes\, clothing\, and equipment between trips to help prevent the spread of WNS. In this webinar\, we’ll explore the impact of White-Nose Syndrome and learn more about the efforts of the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team to combat this deadly disease. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-white-nose-syndrome-and-bats/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/orca_wns_RyanvonLinden.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240918T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240918T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240209T143833Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240930T163850Z UID:122020-1726664400-1726668000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease – An Overview DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Dr. Nicholas Rosenau\, U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands\, Oceans\, and Watersheds \n\n\n\nStony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first reported in September 2014 off the coast of southeast Florida and has since become the most lethal coral disease ever recorded due to its swift spread\, extensive tissue necrosis\, and high mortality rates. \n\n\n\nThe etiological agent(s) and the mechanisms(s) of spread remain under investigation. Research has shown that SCTLD can be transmitted via seawater and direct contact with sick corals and sediments. Ocean currents are believed to play a role in transmitting the disease over relatively short distances (e.g.\, Florida’s Coral Reef) but cannot explain the pattern of spread across the wider Caribbean. Recent attention has focused on the roles vessels (specifically\, ballast water and biofouling) may play in transmitting SCTLD and the implications these potential modes of transport could have for SCTLD spread to coral reefs around the globe. This presentation provides an overview of SCTLD and discusses the hypothesized short- and long-range mechanisms of SCTLD transmission including ocean currents\, sediments\, ballast water and biofouling. Ongoing and planned efforts in the U.S. to understand the cause\, mechanisms of spread\, and impacts of SCTLD will also be presented. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNick Rosenau (U.S. EPA)Nick Rosenau is a Biologist at the U.S. EPA in the Office of Wetlands\, Oceans & Watersheds | Ocean & Coastal Management Branch (OCMB) in Washington\, DC. He is the staff lead for the branch’s Coral Reef Protection Program and coordinates EPA’s National Coral Reef Team. He also serves as the Biofouling lead for EPA’s rulemaking under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). \n\n\n\nNick received his Ph.D. in Earth Science from Southern Methodist University (2013) and Bachelors’ degrees in Geology and Chemistry from the University of Arkansas\, Little Rock (2007). Before moving to the DC area in 2016\, he worked as a Geologist for several energy & environmental consulting firms in Colorado\, and as a Staff Geochemist for oil and gas operators (Pioneer Natural Resources; Sklar Exploration) in Texas and Colorado. Prior to joining EPA full time in 2020\, he was an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow in EPA’s Office of Water where he supported a number of coastal management programs and worked on coastal acidification\, coral disease\, water quality\, vessel discharges\, and vessel sewage no discharge zones projects. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-stony-coral-tissue-loss-disease/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/stonycoral2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240821T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240821T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240208T125957Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240927T161522Z UID:122008-1724245200-1724248800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Dutch Elm Disease and Resistance DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Benjamin Held\, Senior Scientist\, and Ryan Murphy\, Researcher\, Department of Plant Pathology\, University of Minnesota \n\n\n\nFor nearly 10 decades\, the invasive DED pathogen Ophiostoma novo-ulmi has been decimating American elms (Ulmus americana) and other native elm species in Minnesota and across the country. The American elm once lined streets across Minnesota\, and for good reason. Its elegant form and tolerance to the harsh urban environment made it one of two premier canopy species. American\, along with red (U. rubra) and rock (U. thomasii) elm\, also provide critical benefits to ecosystem functioning\, wildlife\, and insects. Control measures so far have relied on sanitation and chemical control\, both of which are expensive methods considering the large numbers of trees affected. Varied disease resistance has been identified in a small number of elms; however\, additional genetic diversity is needed to combat a pathogen that has a changing virulence. Our elm selection program is aimed at identifying\, propagating\, and screening survivor elms for DED tolerance from across the state of Minnesota. In addition\, our reintroduction planting program will also return much needed DED resistant genotypes back into the landscape in both urban and natural forested landscapes. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRyan Murphy is a researcher and educator in the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota. In addition to working on the UMN Elm Selection Program\, he manages the Urban Forestry Outreach & Research Lab which provides education about trees to communities around the state. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBenjamin Held is a researcher in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota where his work focuses on the control and detection of various invasive forest pathogens in addition to wood microbiology and fungal diversity in extreme environments. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-dutch-elm-disease-and-resistance/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/american-elms-in-central-park-2023-11-27-05-32-26-utc-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240717T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240717T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240126T134439Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240701T163406Z UID:121952-1721221200-1721224800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The cryptogenic macroalgal invader Chondria tumulosa overgrows entire coral reefs in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument\, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Dr. Heather L. Spalding\, Associate Professor\, College of Charleston \n\n\n\nCo-Authors: Taylor Williams\, Brian Hauk\, Andrea Kealoha\, and Randall Kosaki. \n\n\n\nThe Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world and supports a high diversity and abundance of native marine flora and fauna. In 2019\, a new cryptogenic red alga\, Chondria tumulosa\, was observed forming dense mats that rapidly overgrew native corals and algae at Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll). By 2023\, up to 40% of sites surveyed at Manawai contained Chondria mats in the lagoon\, back reef\, and fore reef from 1 to 21 m depths. Chondria percent cover was up to 95% over a 25 x 1 m area\, with a canopy height of 21 cm. Stable isotope analyses of Chondria tissue δ15N ranged from 2.2-3.4‰\, suggesting its distribution was not influenced by anthropogenic or shore-based processes (like seabird guano). However\, the %N in algal tissue ranged from 0.95-2.75%\, suggesting enrichment by other processes is occurring. Additional studies on this alga’s ecophysiology and microbiome are needed to determine its mechanism(s) of success in oligotrophic waters with intact top down processes. This alga poses a serious threat to coral reefs in the Pacific because of its mat-forming morphology\, fragmentation\, attachment to nets and other algae\, and high abundance in nearly pristine\, nutrient-poor environments. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Heather Spalding grew up on a small cattle farm in Kentucky but was usually found underwater in the murky depths of the farm pond exploring the mud and “moss”. She received her undergraduate degree in marine science from Southampton College at Long Island University under the tutelage of Dr. Larry Liddle. This led to an internship on kelp forest ecology at Moss Landing Marine Labs (MLML) with Dr. Mike Foster\, where she discovered that being comfortable underwater in low light was a useful skill for a phycologist. After completing her master’s degree in marine science at MLML\, she was lured to the University of Hawaiʻi to study macroalgae with Dr. Isabella Abbott and Dr. Celia Smith for her doctoral degree in marine botany\, with an emphasis on ecology\, evolution\, and conservation biology. This research led to studies on mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago using technical diving and submersibles\, and the discovery of new macroalgal species and deep water coral reefs. After several years of post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument on algal biodiversity and ecophysiology\, Dr. Spalding accepted a tenure-track position in marine biology at the College of Charleston in 2019. She is now an Associate Professor at the College of Charleston and has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and 10 book chapters on macroalgae and corals. URL:https://naisma.org/event/chondria-tumulosa-impacts-to-coral-reefs-in-hawaii/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/algae-identified-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240619T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240619T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240326T121450Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240703T114346Z UID:122673-1718802000-1718805600@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Live Long and Prosper: Protecting Ash Trees and the Ash Resource from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Dr. Deborah McCullough\, Professor\, Department of Entomology and Department of Forestry\, Michigan State University \n\n\n\nThis webinar will address options for protecting valuable ash trees in landscapes from Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) with systemic insecticides. Tactics to integrate systemic insecticides with other EAB management tactics in forested areas\, as well as landscapes\, will be included. We’ll cover some myths about treating ash trees that just won’t go away and talk about trunk injection and potential wounding. Factors related to the economics of treating vs removing ash trees will be included. Questions will be welcome! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDeborah G. McCullough is a Professor at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in the Dept. of Entomology and Dept. of Forestry\, with research\, extension and teaching responsibilities. McCullough’s research focuses on the ecology\, impacts and management of forest insects\, particularly invasive species including emerald ash borer\, beech bark disease\, and hemlock woolly adelgid. She works with forest managers\, regulatory officials\, arborists and landowners to develop sustainable management strategies to protect forest health. McCullough also assists chestnut growers and Christmas tree producers with insect management issues. McCullough teaches a 4 credit course on Forest Insects and Diseases annually and has served as the major advisor for more than 35 graduate students\, many of whom work in forest health and related positions. McCullough has authored or co-authored more than 135 papers about forest insect ecology and management in scientific journals\, approximately 250 extension bulletins\, websites\, videos or articles in trade publications and given more than 600 presentations on forest insects. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-insecticide-options-for-emerald-ash-borer-control-and-ash-tree-protection/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EAB.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240515T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240515T150000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240125T181001Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240709T115559Z UID:121947-1715778000-1715785200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The Trouble with Lionfish: Perspectives from across North America DESCRIPTION:Webinar Highlight: The Trouble with Lionfish: Perspectives from across North AmericaWe hosted a very unique\, bilingual monthly webinar on May 15 with Dr. Steve Gittings from NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries Program and Mateo Sabido from the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of the State of Quintana Roo (IBANQROO). Here’s what we learned: \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nWe learned about the history and evolution of the lionfish invasion\, scientific approaches to managing the species\, and stories of local innovation and action to manage this species in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Mexican Caribbean. Recordings of this webinar are available in both English and Spanish on our YouTube channel. \n\n\n\nYou can also purchase merchandise from our Know Your Invasives: Lionfish Collection from the NAISMA Shop! \n\n\n\n“If their beauty or their arsenal of venomous spines aren’t enough to get your attention\, then their ecological impact might be. Lionfish have\, in some places\, reduced native fish populations by up to 60 percent.” – Dr. Steve Gittings\, NOAA \n\n\n\n“From an environmental standpoint\, clearly the invasion has undeniably been a disaster. But it has been inspiring to watch how people from so many walks of life have joined forces in response to the invasion in the Western Atlantic\, all hoping to do their part to control the outbreak and protect the places that they love.” – Dr. Steve Gittings\, NOAA \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMixed signals: The maturation of the lionfish invasionNearly 40 years after the first lionfish was spotted in the Atlantic Ocean\, and almost 25 years after the invasion exploded across the region\, a case can be made that a fortuitous combination of science and local action has controlled the impact to native ecosystems. Some of the people\, approaches\, and successes of the response will be highlighted. But is that the whole story? What don’t we know? Should Nature be given some credit? And with ecosystems experiencing faster and more severe changes than anything any of us have ever seen\, how can we know what the impacts of lionfish have been? As the battle for control presses on\, and we look ahead to other invasions\, we should ask: Why did Indo-Pacific lionfish invade the Atlantic\, and some Atlantic fish not invade the Pacific? What will the future Atlantic tropical ocean look like? And what have lionfish taught us about ourselves\, our relationship with Nature\, and our role in conservation? Finally\, can we learn from thousands of years of human history in the Mediterranean? Why is that sea so heavily invaded? And why is there a one-way invasion of Red Sea species\, including lionfish\, through the 150 year old Suez Canal? \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Steve Gittings is Chief Scientist for NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program. Before that\, he was manager of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and a research scientist at Texas A&M University. Dr. Gittings has worked in the field of conservation science his entire career\, characterizing and monitoring marine ecosystems\, assessing damage and recovery following ship groundings and oil spills\, and applying science to management. He led a team that developed a process for system-wide reporting on the status and trends of resources and ecosystems in national marine sanctuaries. The reports are now used as critical elements of management planning for the sanctuaries. He has been a diver for over 50 years and has worked for over 40 years as a scientific diver\, doing four saturation missions in the Aquarius habitat\, operating ROVs\, and as a submarine pilot and scientist. Recently\, Dr. Gittings has been developing traps designed to catch lionfish in waters beyond scuba depth. The traps minimize by-catch\, eliminate ghost-fishing\, and are being tested for their potential to help fishermen provide lionfish to seafood and other developing markets\, supplementing their income while also doing conservation. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA 15 años del pez león: Lecciones aprendidas de la participación comunitaria para el monitoreo y control en el Caribe Mexicano. \n\n\n\nLa invasión del pez león (Pterois volitans/miles)\, es considerada como una de las principales amenazas a la biodiversidad marina; a 15 años de su primer registro en México\, el pez león ha logrado establecerse en diferentes ecosistemas y profundidades del Caribe mexicano y Golfo de México. Considerando que su erradicación\, es poco probable; el sector comunitario y pesquero en coordinación con instituciones como la Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) y Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil\, han tenido una participación importante en la estrategia de control\, aprovechamiento y monitoreo para atender la problemática del pez león. \n\n\n\nAquí abordaremos como eje central el involucramiento de las comunidades y las experiencias de mujeres y hombres que viven en las localidades costeras de Cozumel\, Banco Chichorro\, Xcalak y Mahahual\, y como de ser una amenaza se volvió en una oportunidad para la conservación de la biodiversidad y aprovechamiento del pez león. Por último\, abordaremos como éstas iniciativas contribuyen a la Estrategia Nacional de control y monitoreo del pez león en México. \n\n\n\n\n\nMiguel Mateo Sabido Itzá. Biólogo y Maestro en Manejo de Zona Costera es el jefe de departamento de Áreas Naturales Protegidas zona Sur del Instituto de Biodiversidad y Áreas Naturales Protegidas del estado de Quintana Roo (IBANQROO) en México. El Mtro. Sabido es buceador científico y lleva 14 años trabajando en la investigación\, conservación de los ecosistemas costeros y fortalecimiento comunitario en el Caribe Mexicano. Durante este tiempo\, ha colaborado en 30 proyectos enfocándose en temáticas como pez león\, pesquerías artesanales de caracol rosado\, langosta espinosa\, peces arrecifales\, restauración coralina\, manejo de Áreas Naturales Protegidas\, zonas de refugio pesquero\, monitoreo de fauna silvestre\, ciencia ciudadana y fortalecimiento de las comunidades costeras; Todo ello se traduce en más de 60 presentaciones y conferencias en congresos nacionales e internacionales. Es autor principal de 6 artículos científicos publicados en revistas internacionales\, el Mtro. Sabido\, ha tenido la oportunidad de trabajar y colaborar con las Áreas Naturales Protegidas “Reserva de la Biosfera Banco Chinchorro” y “Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Xcalak” enfocándose en el monitoreo\, control\, educación ambiental y promover opciones de aprovechamiento local del pez león siempre desde la perspectiva de involucramiento comunitario. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-invasive-lionfish/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-jeffry-surianto-8856049-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240417T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240417T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240124T182234Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240415T224028Z UID:121937-1713358800-1713362400@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Field mapping protocols- What to consider when mapping for invasive plant species DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jennifer Hillmer and Mark Daluge \n\n\n\nJoin representatives from the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Standards and Technology Committee in a webinar that will explore the NAISMA Mapping Standards and Field Mapping Protocols. Many managers understand the value of data collection and sharing. However\, guidance on data collection practices is not easily accessible. The Standards and Technology Committee has worked to aggregate existing field mapping protocols and have identified the commonalities on general structure of these protocols. In this webinar\, learn what components are commonly included in field mapping protocols\, how they vary\, and what it looks like to create a field mapping protocol for your organization. Representatives from Teton County Weed and Pest District in Jackson\, Wyoming will present field mapping protocols that were created by utilizing the results/guidance from the Standards and Technology Committee. This webinar is sure to be beneficial whether you have a Field Mapping Protocol in place for your organization\, or if you are looking to create your own. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMark Daluge \n\n\n\nMark is the Assistant Supervisor for the Teton County Weed and Pest District located in Jackson\, Wyoming.  Following the receipt of a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business Management from the University of Wisconsin in 2003\, he moved to Jackson and has been working in the invasive species industry ever since.  He received the Rita Beard Visionary Leadership Award from NAISMA in 2019\, given annually in recognition of an early-career individual who has shown exceptional dedication and accomplishments regarding invasive species management or educational activities.  He is a State of Wyoming Certified Weed & Pest Control District Supervisor\, is Past-President of the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA)\, is the chair of the NAISMA Standards and Technology Committee\, and an active member on the NAISMA Weed Free Products committee.  He oversees Teton County Weed and Pest’s yearly treatment operations\, is a licensed drone pilot\, and coordinates their GIS program. Mark takes pride in having a “can do” attitude and likes a challenge.  In his free time\, he enjoys rafting\, skiing\, and camping with his wife and two children.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJennifer HillmerJennifer Hillmer has over twenty-five years of experience in natural areas stewardship and invasive plant control. Her primary areas of interest are field crew development\, building capacity for invasive plant management\, and land stewardship. As the Invasive Plant Management Coordinator at Cleveland Metroparks\, Jennifer helped establish and directs a district-wide management program to find\,evaluate\, prioritize\, and remove invasive plants from the 25\,000-acre park district. She has worked for the Ohio DNR\, The Nature Conservancy\, and The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland\, Ohio. She is a founding member of the Ohio Invasive Plants Council and the Crooked River Cooperative Weed Management Area (Ohio)\, a former board member of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network\, and a tireless advocate for good recordkeeping. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-field-mapping-protocols-what-to-consider-when-mapping-for-invasive-plant-species/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/loosestrife-6508514_19201.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240320T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240320T150000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20240201T180458Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240301T151228Z UID:121989-1710939600-1710946800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Collaboration and Innovation: Working at Multiple Scales at the Department of the Interior to Manage Invasive Species DESCRIPTION:The Department of the Interior plays a central role in how the United States stewards its public lands. Interior manages one-fifth of the country’s land area\, thousands of miles of coastline\, hundreds of dams and reservoirs\, and 1.76 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf. It also upholds the federal government’s trust responsibilities to 574 Federally recognized tribes and honors its special commitments to Alaska Natives\, Native Hawaiians\, and affiliated Island Communities. Additionally\, Interior supplies water to tens of millions of people; provides diverse recreational opportunities; protects the icons of the country’s national heritage; conserves fish\, wildlife\, and their habitats; and provides scientific and other information about these resources. Invasive species pose substantial threats to fulfilling these diverse responsibilities. To reduce those threats\, Interior leads extensive efforts to manage invasive species\, working closely with other federal agencies\, states\, tribes\, territories\, and other partners. This panel session will involve experts from across Interior who will feature signature Departmental invasive species initiatives underway\, provide an overview of Interior bureau missions\, roles\, and responsibilities as it pertains to invasive species management\, and highlight on-the-ground projects underway across the nation. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER URL:https://naisma.org/event/collaboration-and-innovation-working-at-multiple-scales-at-the-department-of-the-interior-to-manage-invasive-species/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/colin-maynard-U-o-x0FSIWM-unsplash2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240301T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20231222T142940Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T130412Z UID:121706-1709298000-1709301600@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Protecting North American Biodiversity from Invasive Species DESCRIPTION:REGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBiodiversity in Focus: A Status Report on North American Species and Ecosystems at Risk presented by Regan Smyth \n\n\n\nBiodiversity loss is recognized by the World Economic Forum as one the greatest global risks\, threatening not just the persistence of at-risk species and health of ecological communities but also the people who depend upon them. In this presentation\, Regan Smyth will report the latest findings from NatureServe’s 2023 report on the status of biodiversity in the United States\, including the role of invasive species as a primary driver of biodiversity loss. \n\n\n\nRegan Smyth is the Vice President for Data and Methods at NatureServe\, where she oversees the development\, management\, and provision of core data resources on North American species and ecosystems. She ensures that the biodiversity information collected by NatureServe’s Network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers meets consistent standards\, resulting in the highest quality data available on the location and conservation status of biodiversity throughout the Americas. This dataset allows us to understand species extinction risk and direct conservation action. Regan has a master’s degree in ecosystem conservation and management from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science\, also from Duke University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCase Study #1 – The Selective Management of Invasive Aquatic Plants presented by Dr. Mark Heilman \n\n\n\nExotic aquatic plants can overwhelm invaded habitat and drastically alter biodiversity and function of aquatic ecosystems.   These invasions severely disrupt ecology\, and for threatened species under pressure from other environmental disturbance\, non-native aquatic plants can pose a dire risk.  Selective management strategies for invasive aquatic plants have demonstrated the ability to protect or restore habitat\, including critical sites for threatened and endangered species of fish\, mussels\, and other taxa.   Several interesting\, aquatic plant management projects from across the US will be highlighted for their success in maintaining and/or enhancing biodiversity and habitat quality. \n\n\n\nDr. Mark Heilman serves on the Board of Directors of NAISMA and Chairs the Legislative Committee. As Director of Aquatic Technology for SePRO (Carmel\, Indiana)\, Dr. Heilman leads the company’s research and development efforts to bring forward new technologies for managing water resources. He also directly assists many public and private natural resource managers in the US and internationally with design and implementation of challenging projects managing aquatic invasive species with an emphasis on aquatic plants. Dr. Heilman received his B.S. in Biology (1992) and his Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Notre Dame (1998). He is a Past President of the Aquatic Plant Management Society. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCase Study #2 – Long Island rare species and invasives management presented by Abby Marino \n\n\n\nLong Island\, NY has more than its fair share of invasive species\, but at the same time this region is one of the most biodiverse in New York State. In this presentation\, Abby B. Marino will share how the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area PRISM approaches rare species conservation alongside invasive species management.  \n\n\n\nAbby B. Marino works as the Conservation Area Manager for the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area. She received her B.S. in environmental science from Cornell University\, where she worked in the Blossey lab studying invasive plant-soil interactions. Her work as the communications coordinator for the NY Invasive Species Research Institute gave her experience in communicating invasive species research for managers and the public. In addition to her work at LIISMA\, she is pursuing a masters degree in Energy & Environmental Management at the University of Connecticut. URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-protecting-north-american-biodiversity-from-invasive-species/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/forest-road-in-the-autumn-landscape-2023-11-27-05-16-46-utc2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240229T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240229T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20231222T142131Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T122457Z UID:121703-1709211600-1709215200@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Opportunities and Challenges for Preventing the Next Plant Invasion DESCRIPTION:In the past 50 years\, the number of non-native species introduced outside their native range has doubled\, leading to substantial negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts. This is a problem that will persist as species introductions continue to rise and impacts are intensified by climate change and other drivers of change. It is well-established that economic returns on investment in prevention and eradication far outweigh those for containment and maintenance control management strategies\, but investment in prevention is still much less than what is spent on management. Weed risk assessment is a method to preemptively screen species before they are introduced to a new area (or as early as possible). It is based on the idea that species traits can be used to predict the success (or failure) of a species at passing through the stages of invasion and spread. In this presentation\, we will discuss different approaches to risk assessment\, how results are applied\, some of the benefits and costs of this process\, and the future of risk assessment to prevent continued plant invasions. \n\n\n\nThis webinar is sponsored by CAST in partnership with NAISMA. \n\n\n\nPresented by Deah Lieurance\, Assistant Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management at Penn State University\, and Theresa Culley\, Professor of Plant Ecology and past Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDeah Lieurance is currently an Assistant Professor of Invasive Species Biology and Management in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at The Pennsylvania State University. Previously\, she worked at University of Florida as an Extension Scientist leading the IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants-a risk assessment program. Her research and extension work centers around invasive species prevention and prioritization using decision support tools and horizon scanning. She is the 2021 recipient of NAISMA’s Rita Beard Visionary Leadership Award. Additionally\, she currently serves on the NAISMA’s board and the chair of the Board Development Committee and Pennsylvania’s Invasive Species Council.   \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTheresa Culley is a Professor of Plant Ecology and past Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on the mechanisms and genetics of plant invasions\, especially for species of ornamental and horticultural use. She is a board member of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)\, a founding co-organizer of Public Gardens as Sentinels of Plant Invasion (PGSIP) in North America\, and a past president of the Ohio Invasive Species Council (OIPC) where she chairs its invasive plant assessment committee. Theresa also serves on the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Invasive Plant Advisory Committee which assists in the commercial regulation of invasive species in Ohio.  URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-opportunities-and-challenges-for-preventing-the-next-plant-invasion/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/nsm-bk-4.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240228T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240228T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20231222T141300Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240131T200300Z UID:121699-1709125200-1709128800@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: The Federal Interagency Committee on the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds DESCRIPTION:Please join members of the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW) to learn more about the organization\, hear highlights from 2023\, get a preview of upcoming plans\, and provide input on future federal coordination needs regarding invasive plant research and management. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE\n\n\n\n\nAgenda: \n\n\n\n\nWelcome and introduction to FICMNEW presented by Seth Flanigan\, Bureau of Land Management and Co-Chair of FICMNEW\n\n\n\nBrief history of FICMNEW efforts presented by Vijay Nandula\, National Institute of Food and Agriculture\n\n\n\n2023 highlights presented by Paul Heimowitz\, U.S. Geological Survey\n\n\n\nUpcoming plans presented by Vijay Nandula – NIFA\n\n\n\nFuture needs discussion presented by Terri Hogan\, National Park Service\n\n\n\nWrap-up/Involvement opportunities presented by Chris Taliga\, Natural Resources Conservation Service and co-chair of FICMNEW URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-the-federal-interagency-committee-on-the-management-of-noxious-and-exotic-weeds/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/yellow_toadflax_in_mtn_field-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240226T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240226T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043319 CREATED:20231222T140757Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T122657Z UID:121696-1708948800-1708956000@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Annual USGS Invasive Species Research Forum - Better Living Through Modern Invasion Science DESCRIPTION:Presented by James English\, Renee Bellinger\, Diane Waller\, Seth Munson\, Amy Yackel Adams\, Kristen Hart\, and Kurt Kowalski with the U.S Geological Survey \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-annual-usgs-invasive-species-research-forum/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/nb22e.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240117T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240117T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20231117T124154Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T185801Z UID:121324-1705496400-1705500000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Protecting Threatened and Endangered Species from Pesticides DESCRIPTION:When EPA registers a pesticide or reevaluates it in registration review\, the Agency has a responsibility under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ensure that the pesticide registrations do not jeopardize the continued existence of federally threatened or endangered (listed) species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats. Chemical stressors\, such as pesticides\, are one of many factors that can contribute to population declines of listed species. Other factors include habitat loss\, climate change\, invasive species\, and pests/diseases. In April 2022\, EPA released its workplan to address the complexity of meeting its ESA obligations for actions taken under the Federal Insecticide\, Fungicide\, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This comprehensive workplan establishes four overall strategies and dozens of actions that EPA will adopt\, in collaboration with other federal agencies\, to improve protection for federally threatened and endangered (listed) species and meet our ESA obligations. Subsequently\, in November 2022\, EPA issued a workplan update that describes several current and future programmatic initiatives with other federal agencies to prioritize mitigation for listed species that are particularly vulnerable to pesticides and to improve the efficiency and timeliness of the ESA-FIFRA process. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker\n\n\n\nBrian Anderson is the Associate Director of the Environmental Fate and Effects Division in the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs. Brian has worked on a number of exposure\, ecotoxicology\, risk assessment\, and endangered species related issues for the last 20 years. He lives in Virginia where he enjoys hiking\, golf\, and music. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-protecting-threatened-and-endangered-species-from-pesticides/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Professional Development,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sprayer-spray-insecticide-and-chemistry-on-cabbage-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231220T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231220T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230313T121354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231215T135525Z UID:120189-1703077200-1703080800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: The Dilemma for Control of Invasive Species: Incorrect Terms Limit Our Capacity to Respond DESCRIPTION:REGISTER\n\n\n\n\nPresented by Neil Anderson\, B.S.\, M.S.\, Ph.D. \n\n\n\nIn a perfect world\, definitions of plant responses in the environment are treated as absolutes. Yet we acknowledge the genetic and environmental responses that phenotypes have during evolution\, namely plasticity\, pose difficulties in decision-making for land managers. Our terminology needs to follow suit to avoid presumptive jargon creating misfits in our understanding for land management. We will examine sets of absolutist\, oppositional terminology that obstruct invasive species research\, using a native yet invasive species as a framework (Phalaris arundinacea): native/exotic and invasive/non-invasive\, etc. By refocusing our lenses\, a taxon should be regarded in terms of its capacity to establish and spread and the potential threat(s) it poses to natural and/or managed landscapes. In other words\, view each taxon as a species\, rather than associated labels that divert its potential to drain resources for potential control. Re-examination for potential control (yes/no) requires that each land-holding interest group (federal\, state or provincial; Tribal; local authorities; private landowners) differentially shift their land managers’ perspectives and approaches for control. Regulatory agents will\, likewise\, need to reformulate particular legislation for control of a native invasive species that had been previously assumed as exotic or foreign in origin. \n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio –Dr. Neil Anderson is a Full Professor and J. William Fulbright Scholar\, directing the Herbaceous Ornamental Breeding Program for the University of Minnesota. He assumes the role of Interim Head for the Department of Horticultural Science in February 2023. Neil is an internationally recognized expert in plant reproductive biology\, invasive species biology\, geophytes\, rapid generation cycling crops\, tissue culture\, molecular biology\, plant breeding and genetics. He has developed and released numerous commercial cultivars and is an expert in intellectual property. Neil is also a recognized plant expert in breeding & domestication and a plant explorer\, having collected wild species of ornamental interest across the globe. His research focus is primarily on breeding winter-hardy herbaceous perennials for ornamental value as well as green pesticides (pyrethrum); complementary research / outreach includes hydroponics\, aquaponics\, controlled environments\, and preventing invasiveness of ornamental crops during domestication. His program releases many cultivars with Intellectual Property filings around the world. His research and expertise in controlled environmental agriculture complement outreach activities across Minnesota in the Research and Outreach Centers. Dr. Anderson leads a large team of research scientists\, graduate and undergraduate students. He teaches a wide range of online and live horticulture classes in Floral Design\, Greenhouse Crop Scheduling and Spring Flowering Bulbs. He is also the Coordinator for the Horticulture Minor. URL:https://naisma.org/event/december-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/decland.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231115T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231115T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230313T121257Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230907T132344Z UID:120187-1700053200-1700056800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Decades-Long Partnership Successfully Eradicates Destructive Nutria Rodents from Maryland DESCRIPTION:Nutria are invasive\, semi-aquatic\, South American rodents first released into Dorchester County\, Maryland in 1943. Since their release\, nutria have destroyed thousands of acres of wetlands through their destructive feeding habitats. A concerted effort to eradicate nutria in Maryland began in 2002 following a two year pilot project to determine if nutria could be eradicated from the Chesapeake Bay and if the damaged marshlands would recover. The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project\, under the direction of a management team initially composed of representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)\, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR)\, Tudor Farms\, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)\, and University of Maryland\, began the first phases of the project in April 2002. Twenty years later in 2022\, the The Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project announced that nutria were successfully eradicated from the state of Maryland. In this webinar\, participants will learn about nutria and the successful partnership-based program that eradicated the invasive rodents from Maryland. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresented by Jonathan McKnight\, Associate Director of the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service within the Department of Natural Resources \n\n\n\nJonathan McKnight has served in numerous roles in wildlife habitat conservation since 1986. He is currently the Associate Director of the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service\, the wildlife management section of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. URL:https://naisma.org/event/november-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/nutria-91.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231004T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231004T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230710T160334Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230807T142131Z UID:120688-1696424400-1696428000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Utilizing Invasive Plants as a Medium for Conservation Artwork DESCRIPTION:Presented by Jane Kramer \n\n\n\nJane Kramer’s projects are created with a conceptual approach and are focused on environmental and social issues. Her ongoing project\, Foreshadowing: Endangered and Threatened Plant Species\, began upon selection into the Art from the Lakes program and with funding\, in part\, from Michigan Nature Association. For this project\, Jane photographs the shadows of Michigan’s endangered and threatened plant species and transfers the images onto paper she makes from invasive plant species. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJane Kramer is a fine art photographer in East Lansing\, Michigan\, and the recipient of an Individual Artist Grant and a Chris Clark Fellowship from the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. She has a degree in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota and photography training from the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula\, Montana. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-invasive-species-as-a-medium-for-conservation-artwork/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/rsh100.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230920T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230920T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230313T121158Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230901T113440Z UID:120185-1695214800-1695218400@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Reviewing the Impacts of Climate Change on Biological Control Agents: Identifying Research Priorities and Knowledge Gaps DESCRIPTION:Biocontrol\, the practice of using one species (biocontrol agents) to control another (target pest) is an important management tool. Conservation\, augmentative\, and classical/importation biocontrol have all been successfully used to reduce target pest species in agriculture and natural systems. Climate change may influence both well-established and new biocontrol relationships\, yet the effects of climate change on biocontrol agents remains largely unknown. Using a systematic literature review\, we evaluate the empirical evidence for climate change effects on biocontrol agents; identifying the types of biocontrol agents\, variety of responses\, and environmental conditions most frequently tested by experimental studies. These results highlight the state of the science behind climate change impacts on biocontrol and the areas where both managers and researchers can work together to address current knowledge gaps. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJennifer Andreas is a Professor with Washington State University Extension where she leads the Integrated Weed Control Project (IWCP) and acts as the state weed biocontrol specialist. Jennifer started working in biological weed control in 1998 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Lethbridge Research Centre while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge. She continued with biocontrol research at CABI – Switzerland and then completed a Master’s of Science in Entomology at the University of Idaho\, where she investigated the environmental safety of the houndstongue root weevil.  In 2005\, she joined WSU and shifted her focus onto invasive species education\, biocontrol implementation and education and is the primary biocontrol resource for Washington State. In addition to this work\, Jennifer is chair for the Flowering Rush Biocontrol Consortium\, co-chair of the Columbia Basin CWMA\, co-chair of NAISMA’s Classical Biological Control Committee\, and conducts research for several weed-biocontrol systems. To learn more\, please visit: www.invasives.wsu.edu. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnnette Evans is a Postdoctoral Research Associated with the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC) at the University of Massachusetts\, Amherst. Annette earned a Masters in Biosecurity and Conservation from the University of Auckland where she studied the relationship between endemic scale insects and geckos following the removal of invasive mammals on an isolated island in New Zealand. She then pursed a PhD at University of Connecticut where she studied how climate change impacts the eco-evolutionary dynamics of red-backed salamanders. In 2021\, Annette joined the leadership team at the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network (https://www.risccnetwork.org/northeast) and has worked on a variety of invasive species projects including modeling range shifting invasive plants\, synthesizing invasive species research and management priorities identified in RISCC surveys\, and evaluating current evidence for climate change impacts on biocontrol organisms.  URL:https://naisma.org/event/september-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GACA-2002-After.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230816T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230816T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230201T154247Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230717T184709Z UID:119882-1692190800-1692194400@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Introduced Plant Pathogens Threatening North American Forests DESCRIPTION:REGISTER\n\n\n\n\nIntroduced plant pathogens threaten North American forests. Some arrived in the distant past: chestnut blight\, white pine blister rust\, beech bark disease\, Dutch elm disease\, butternut canker. Damaging introductions continue through the late 20th Century (sudden oak death\, laurel wilt) and recent decades (ohia rust\, Fusarium blight\, rapid ohia death\, beech leaf disease). Introduction of pathogens to naïve ecosystems is a global problem: North American and Asian pathogens are killing millions of trees in Europe. \n\n\n\nMost of these pathogens probably entered on plant imports; others associated with ambrosia beetles could be introduced on plants\, or on wood. The U.S. imported ~5 billion plants in 2021. One type of wood imports known to transport ambrosia beetles is\, and wood packaging\, e.g.\, crates and pallets. The U.S.\, Canada\, and Mexico together import more than 31 million shipping containers per year. Between 11\,000 and 25\,000 of these containers are probably transporting a wood-boring pest. (While not all ambrosia beetles\, this group is among the most commonly detected insects.) \n\n\n\nWhen the World Trade Organization came into effect in the mid-1990s\, countries adopted an international system intended to protect plants from pest introductions associated with trade. However\, this system has demonstrably failed to curtail introductions. I will discuss the following reasons: \n\n\n\n\nthe system does not allow countries to regulate an organism until scientists can name it & demonstrate damage. Achieving this knowledge is hampered by\n\n\n\nsometimes years of delay in establishing causal agents of disease\n\n\n\nconfusion over which barrier a disease-causing organism has overcome: geographic\, environmental\, or evolutionary. Only the first meets the definition of an “invasive species”\, which is necessary to be eligible for regulationpathogens are extremely difficult to detect during visual inspection\n\n\n\n\nThe USDA has amended its plant import regulations\, but data analyses to date have been inadequate to say how effectively the current regulations prevent introductions. Open discussion is needed by regulators\, scientists\, trade\, stakeholders to try to identify steps that would result in enhanced protection. \n\n\n\nPresented by Faith Campbell\, President of the Center for Invasive Species Prevention \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFaith Campbell holds a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University. She has worked as a conservation advocate for a series of environmental organizations\, including the Natural Resources Defense Council\, American Lands Alliance\, and Nature Conservancy. Since the early 1990s\, Faith has focused on invasive species policy\, especially insects and pathogens that attack North American tree species. \n\n\n\nFaith has published 3 reports on the forest pest issue [www.treeimprovement.utk.edu/FadingForests]\, as well as articles in publications ranging from Bioscience to Earth First Journal. Faith served as an advisor to the Office of Technology Assessment project which resulted in its report\, Harmful Non-Indigenous Species in the United States and served two terms on the national Invasive Species Advisory Council. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-introduced-plant-pathogens-threatening-north-american-forests/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/august23-forest.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230719T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230719T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230313T121102Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230717T184720Z UID:120183-1689771600-1689775200@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Using People Powered Restoration to Manage Invasive Species in an Urban National Park DESCRIPTION:Managing invasive species is a costly\, time and labor intensive process necessary for the restoration of natural ecosystems and the benefits they provide to the human communities surrounding them. While some species require technical expertise to effectively control\, others can be managed through mechanical means by stewards of a diversity of backgrounds. People-powered restoration benefits not only the lands on which volunteers serve\, but also provides value to park stakeholders as an opportunity to cultivate community supported by common interests. Rock Creek Conservancy\, the stewardship partner to Rock Creek Park\, leverages the power of the Washington\, D.C. metro population embedded around this major urban national park to contribute to the restoration of its forests\, which are burdened by invasive plants. Robust volunteer programming\, in coordination with management by the National Park Service\, allow Rock Creek Conservancy to achieve success in the restoration of public lands across the Rock Creek watershed. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\nPresented by:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJeanne Braha\, Executive Director\, Rock Creek Conservancy \n\n\n\nBraha has been Executive Director of Rock Creek Conservancy for four years\, leading the development of the 2021-2025 strategic plan\, building the mini-oasis program to demonstrate restoration\, and managing all facets of the organization’s operations. Braha holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment (formerly Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Science) and Bachelor of anthropology and environmental science from Bryn Mawr College\, as well as an executive certificate of nonprofit management from Georgetown University. Braha’s career has fostered connections between humans and the natural world\, in organizations from Alice Ferguson Foundation to the National Wildlife Federation. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAshley Triplett\, Senior Forest Resilience Manager\, Rock Creek Conservancy \n\n\n\nTriplett joined the Conservancy’s team in the fall of 2022 to lead Rock Creek Resilience efforts\, serving as project manager for development of a framework to protect Rock Creek’s forests in the face of climate change. Prior to her tenure at the Conservancy\, Triplett spent 5 years as a wildlife technician with the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Triplett has a Bachelor of Science in environmental biology from Michigan State University and Master of Science in wildlife biology from the University of Louisiana. URL:https://naisma.org/event/july-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/july23-12.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230621T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230621T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230313T121012Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230607T160854Z UID:120181-1687352400-1687356000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Advancing International Invasive Species Prevention Efforts and Developing a Model Legal Framework for Noxious Weed Programs DESCRIPTION:REGISTER\n\n\n\n\nAbstract: NAISMA and our partners steward and implement international prevention programs\, including PlayCleanGo®: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks® and Certified Weed Free Products (WFP). These well-established programs are aimed at stopping the spread of invasive species through specific human-assisted pathways. NAISMA was awarded a prevention grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service\, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\, to expand prevention programming and develop resources to overcome barriers to consistent program implementation across the nation.   \n\n\n\nPlayCleanGo®: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks® is NAISMA’s official\, branded\, registered\, trademark-protected education and outreach program aimed at stopping the spread of invasive species through outdoor recreational pathways. This grant will provide 102 surface mounted boot brush stations with customized interpretive signage on the Department of the Interior properties.  \n\n\n\nThe Certified Weed Free Products (WFP) Program is the only program in North America that provides land managers with assurance that noxious weeds will not be spread through the movement of forage\, hay\, mulch\, or gravel. Through this grant\, NAISMA will be developing numerous tools focused on the legal authority for noxious weed management\, establishing strong relationships with governments and industries\, and providing education and outreach for the public. In this webinar\, NAISMA team will provide a brief overview of their prevention programs\, along with the grant objectives and deliverables. \n\n\n\nIn addition\, NAISMA has partnered with the National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) to create a model legal framework for noxious weed programs focused on pathway prevention through certified weed free forage\, gravel\, and mulch. Experts from NSGLC will participate in the webinar to provide an overview of their approach and opportunities for collaboration. \n\n\n\nPresented by: \n\n\n\n\nElizabeth Brown\, Director of Government Relations\, NAISMA\n\n\n\nStephanie Showalter-Otts\, Director\, National Sea Grant Law Center  URL:https://naisma.org/event/june-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/junewebinar23.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230517T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230517T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230313T120729Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230427T132750Z UID:120178-1684328400-1684332000@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Chemical Control of Invasive Weeds: Herbicide Selectivity\, Modes of Action\, and the Use of Herbicides DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dr. Franck Dayan\, Professor of Weed Science\, College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio:Dr. Franck Dayan is a Professor of Weed Science in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University. He joined the faculty of in January 2016 after a 20-year career as a research plant physiologist for the USDA-ARS. Dr. Dayan is interested in functional plant genomics and his research program encompasses applied projects on herbicide mode of action and evolution of resistance in weeds to more basic projects aiming to use genomic approaches to decipher traits imparting weediness (competition\, cold and heat stress tolerance\, etc.). He is also interested in the relative contribution of each of the 3 wheat genomes to specific pathways associated with primary metabolism. Dr. Dayan’s expertise is in plant biochemistry and physiology\, as well as chemical ecology complements the efforts already in place in other groups at Colorado State University. URL:https://naisma.org/event/may-webinar/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/mayweb23.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230419T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230419T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230101T171825Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230414T130654Z UID:119109-1681909200-1681912800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Ventenata Identification\, Impacts\, and Management Options DESCRIPTION:Ventenata (Ventenata dubia) is one of the most recent troublesome invasive plant species to affect range\, pasture\, and wild lands of the Intermountain Pacific Northwest and Northern Great Plains of the U.S. This presentation will cover biology\, ecology\, and management of ventenata. Grass identification can be difficult\, and this presentation will also discuss how to identify ventenata relative to other non-native annual grasses that are problematic on western range and wild lands. In areas where ventenata is just beginning to invade\, identification is critical for early detection and rapid response. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio:Jane Mangold is a Professor and Extension Invasive Plant Specialist at Montana State University in Bozeman. Her program focuses on developing and disseminating unbiased\, research-based information on integrated invasive plant and noxious weed management on rangeland. She has been in this position since 2008\, and much of her time has been spent working on non-native\, annual grasses. She received a B.S. from Iowa State University and M.S. and Ph.D. from Montana State University. URL:https://naisma.org/event/ventenata-identification-impacts-and-management-options/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/53926871.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230315T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230315T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20221205T184545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221205T184546Z UID:118955-1678885200-1678888800@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species through PlayCleanGo and WorkCleanGo DESCRIPTION:PlayCleanGo®: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks® is NAISMA’s official\, branded\, registered\, trademark-protected education and outreach program aimed at stopping the spread of invasive species through outdoor recreational pathways. The international campaign is grounded in a Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) strategy. Thanks to past support from the USDA Forest Service and USDA APHIS\, and a the National Memorandum of Understanding with the National Park Service and the US Fish & Wildlife Service\, more than 200 digital graphics and print ready materials have been created to simplify social media marketing and in-person prevention outreach for partners\, as well as more than 6\,000 handheld boot brushes have been distributed to recreationists through NAISMA and NAISMA’s partners. NAISMA partners have placed more than 300+ boot brush stations on the landscape at recreation access points including trailheads\, visitor centers\, and parking areas. NAISMA partners and PlayCleanGo supporters share prevention communication through social channels\, as this proven outdoor recreation focused campaign aims to prevent the spread of invasive species by effecting behavior change and reminding recreationists to clean their gear every time they go to their favorite or a new recreation area. This is achieved through positive messaging that resonates with recreationists’ and field workers’ values\, and includes a clear call to action to clean boots\, boats\, and other outdoor gear. \n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Bio\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLindsey manages the PlayCleanGo program\, working to provide opportunities for recreationists to prevent the spread of invasive species and empower them to incorporate land stewardship in their favorite outdoor activities. Lindsey has experience in invasion research\, environmental education and community science\, and most recently coordinated volunteer-powered invasive plant management in Washington D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-preventing-the-spread-of-invasive-species-through-playcleango-and-workcleango/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/stewbanner1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230220T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230220T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20230208T183226Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230208T183655Z UID:119918-1676898000-1676901600@naisma.org SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Invasive Species Programs Across Mexico DESCRIPTION:Presented by Yolanda Barrios Caballero\, CONABIO \n\n\n\nAs the fifth mega diverse country\, and with invasive species identified as the third cause of biodiversity loss\, Mexico has been working more and more towards addressing this relatively new topic. The National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity\, CONABIO\, has been a key institution in leading many invasive species related activities for over a decade. These have included the publication of the National Strategy\, and the first invasive species list for the country. As home to the National Biodiversity information system\, CONABIO is a unique institution that holds all biodiversity related information\, including exotic and invasive species. Its role is to act as a bridge between academia\, government and society\, and is the most important source of information for stakeholders of all levels. In recent years with the help of the GEF funded invasive species project in Mexico\, there was a boost in collaboration amongst institutions. Over 300 products resulted from this project\, these included: management activities throughout the country\, island eradication where Mexico has achieved great success; work with specific groups such as ornamental fish farms\, development of communication materials for the public and citizen science amongst others. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYolanda Barrios CaballeroInvasive species specialist in CONABIO for over 15 years. She has a master’s degree in Conservation biology from the University of Kent and a specialization in science communications. She participated in the development of the Mexican Strategy for the control of invasive species and in the publication of the first invasive species list for Mexico\, which included developing with a group of experts an Invasiveness Risk Assessment Methodology specific for the country. Her work includes the update of the invasive species information database\, carrying out risk assessments\, working with other government and academic institutions in the development of invasive species programs around the country. She is co-author of several book chapters on invasive species and constantly participates in workshops and forums on the topic. In recent years\, she has been heavily involved in the development of communication materials and campaigns on invasive species for the general public. URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-invasive-species-programs-across-mexico/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mexico-shutterstock_2056645058-RFC.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230215T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230215T140000 DTSTAMP:20260711T043320 CREATED:20220801T182350Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221207T141318Z UID:118476-1676466000-1676469600@naisma.org SUMMARY:Webinar: Miller Creek Watershed Restoration: The Value of Partnership During a Pandemic DESCRIPTION:Presented by: Ben Wishnek\, US Fish and Wildlife Service \n\n\n\nRegistration Link → \n\n\n\nSalmonids are critical components of the transitional boreal forest and temperate rainforests of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.  Alaska Natives and the local economy are dependent upon subsistence\, recreational\, and commercial fisheries that target these species.  Invasive Northern Pike (Esox lucius) (pike)\, which prey upon and threaten local salmonids\, were thought to have been eradicated from the Kenai Peninsula across multiple waterbodies in early 2019 following a concerted multi-year effort by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).  A late 2019 report of a pike caught in Vogel Lake within the Miller Creek Watershed (MCW) isolated in the northern portion of the peninsula changed the narrative about the Kenai Peninsula being pike-free.  Subsequent surveys by ADF&G confirmed pike presence and a work group including the Kenai Watershed Forum\, ADF&G\, and three offices from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) convened to begin the process to plan for management of this population.  Covid-19 emerged during spring 2020 and the group had to pivot its approach to project planning to be done via multiple virtual meetings.  Eradication efforts took place in 2021 and restoration efforts began in 2022.  This project has been able to move forward utilizing the Early Detection Rapid Response approach to invasive species management despite multiple challenges brought about by the pandemic.  An overview of the project and lessons learned thus far will be summarized. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker bio\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBen Wishnek is currently an invasive species project manager in southern Alaska. He has a BS in Wildlife from Humboldt State University and a MS in Environmental Sciences from Oregon State University. Much of his professional experience prior to his current position has centered around wetlands and riparian areas with invasive species\, primarily plants and fish\, being a focus area. His current position focuses on managing projects with internal and external partners that focus on early detection and rapid response to incipient invasions on and adjacent to National Wildlife Refuges in southern Alaska. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-miller-creek-watershed-restoration-the-value-of-partnership-during-a-pandemic/ CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_09222.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Brown%2C Director of Government Relations and Professional Development":MAILTO:ebrown@naisma.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR