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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250228T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250228T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055507
CREATED:20250122T133223Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250224T192858Z
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SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Strategic Prevention Initiatives - Having Impact at Multiple Scales
DESCRIPTION:This webinar will highlight examples of strategic and collaborative prevention projects supported by the Department of the Interior (DOI). Projects featured include recipients of DOI’s Notice of Funding Opportunity offered in 2022 to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species through strategic landscape-level approaches. Presenters will provide an overview of progress made. \n\n\n\nPresentations and Speakers: \n\n\n\n\nRapid deployment of watercraft cleaning stations – Zach Burnside\, Wildlife ForeverThis presentation will detail the steps taken to work with local and state partners in the Columbia River Basin to install signage\, pavement markings\, and user-led watercraft cleaning stations at public access sites in the Columbia River Basin.\n\n\n\nStrengthening the California Islands biosecurity program to leverage outcomes for biosecurity on U.S. Department of the Interior Islands – Dr. Nick Holmes (The Nature Conservancy) and Annie LIttle (National Park Service)Annie Little and Nick Holmes will be presenting efforts to Strengthen the California Islands Biosecurity program including opportunities to leverage outcomes for biosecurity on US Department of the Interior Islands broadly.\n\n\n\nAn international approach to addressing aquatic invasive species in commerce – Leah Elwell (Conservation Collaborations\, LLC) and Stephanie Otts\, J.D. (National Sea Grant Law Center)Commerce in aquatic invasive species represents a significant pathway for their introduction and spread globally. This presentation will share multiple solutions to address key areas that lead to aquatic invasive species issues associated with commerce.\n\n\n\nPreventing the introduction and spread of invasive species through NAISMA’s strategic international prevention programs – Christie Trifone Millhouse\, NAISMANAISMA 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 prevention programs are aimed at stopping the spread of invasive species through specific human-assisted pathways. With funding received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\, NAISMA has taken significant steps to advance these campaigns.\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nZach Burnside\, Invasive Species Program Manager\, Wildlife ForeverZach manages national Clean.Drain.Dry. Initiative outreach\, education\, and implementation of access-based cleaning solutions to empower the recreational boater and angler to do their part \n\n\n\nto prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Nick Holmes\, Associate Director of Oceans\, California Chapter of The Nature ConservancyNick lead’s TNC’s Island Resilience Strategy and works in thematic areas of island conservation\, invasive species management\, seabird restoration and threatened species recovery. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnnie Little\, Supervisory Natural Resource Manager\, Channel Islands National Park\, National Park ServiceAnnie leads the terrestrial program for Channel Islands National Park. Her focus is the conservation of unique island ecosystems\, including eradication and control of invasive species\, habitat restoration\, and species recovery. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLeah Elwell\, President\, Conservation Collaborations\, LLCLeah leads Conservation Collaborations\, LLC.\, that works with partners to identify solutions for invasive species and conservation issues. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStephanie Otts\, J.D.\, Director\, National Sea Grant Law Center As Director\, Stephanie oversees a variety of legal education\, research\, and outreach activities and has conducted extensive research on legal issues related to invasive species management. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristie Trifone Millhouse\, Executive Director\, North American Invasive Species Management AssociationChristie serves as the Executive Director of the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). With over 25 years of experience in the conservation sector\, Christie brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic vision to her leadership role. As Executive Director\, she oversees the development and implementation of innovative policies and programs that address invasive species management across North America. Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders\, including land and water resource managers\, agency directors\, and nonprofit organizations. Christie’s expertise and dedication ensure that NAISMA remains at the forefront of efforts to mitigate the impact of invasive species through education\, outreach\, and professional networking.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-biosecurity-at-the-department-of-the-interior/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/stratprev.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250319T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250319T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055507
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:20250414T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250417T170000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055507
CREATED:20240725T121840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T141706Z
UID:123839-1744617600-1744909200@naisma.org
SUMMARY:National Forum on Biological Control Conference
DESCRIPTION:The USDA Forest Service is leading the 2nd National Forum on Biological Control Conference in partnership with the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) and National Association of State Foresters (NASF). This conference will focus on both weed and arthropod biocontrol and will be a venue for all biocontrol practitioners\, researchers\, policy makers and others from integrated disciplines to come together to address the shared challenges (e.g.\, communication\, capacity\, changing landscapes) and opportunities that exist in this area. The themes for this meeting will focus on biocontrol research\, management\, and policy and impacts across ecosystems. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAgenda for the April 14 USDA ARS Northeast Area Stakeholder Engagement Meeting for Biological Control. \n\n\n\nCall for Oral Presentation and Poster Abstracts \n\n\n\nAbstracts for the conference are due November 15th\, 2024 \n\n\n\nConference sessions will be centered around the main themes of biocontrol research\, management\, and policy and impacts\, with various topics highlighted in the table below. We’d like to invite anyone who would like to present an oral presentation or poster to please submit your abstract by the November 15th deadline. To ensure a common thread exists between the presentations throughout the conference\, we’d like abstracts and presentations to include their respective topic’s applicable key strengths\, challenges\, opportunities\, needs\, and next steps forward. \n\n\n\nPlease send in your oral presentation and/or poster abstracts and biographical sketches to Vanessa Lopez (vanessa.lopez@usda.gov) by November 15th.  \n\n\n\nGuidelines for abstracts and biographical sketches \n\n\n\nSubmission Form \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2024 NFBCC Proceedings\n\n\n\n\nPartners
URL:https://naisma.org/event/national-forum-on-biological-control-conference/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/biocontrol-forum-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250416T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250416T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250521T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250521T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
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:20250607T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250614T170000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250531T120359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T164415Z
UID:133415-1749283200-1749920400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:PlayCleanGo® Awareness Week
DESCRIPTION:Join us for PlayCleanGo® Awareness Week\, taking place June 7–14\, 2025\, across North America! The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) invites outdoor enthusiasts\, land managers\, and recreation partners across the U.S.\, Canada\, and Mexico to take part in this annual campaign\, which empowers everyone who enjoys the outdoors to take simple\, effective actions to prevent the spread of invasive species—and protect the places we love. \n\n\n\nThis year’s theme\, “Partnering Together to Protect Our Favorite Places\,” underscores the importance of collaboration in safeguarding trails\, parks\, waterways\, and wildlands. Through a unified North American effort—co-hosted with our PlayCleanGo® partners in Canada and Mexico\, including Invasives Canada and CONABIO—this campaign highlights how collective action can lead to meaningful change across borders. \n\n\n\nThroughout the week\, we’ll be sharing inspiring stories\, helpful tips\, and outreach from individuals and organizations who are taking steps to “PlayCleanGo” in their everyday adventures. Our 2025 taglines—“Together we can prevent the spread of invasive species” and “All of us can protect our favorite places”—remind us that everyone has a role to play. \n\n\n\nHow to Get Involved: \n\n\n\n\nPartner with us to reach the outdoor recreation community through local events\, videos\, social media\, and media outreach.\n\n\n\nAdd your events to our PlayCleanGo® Awareness Week calendar!\n\n\n\nExplore partnership opportunities to support prevention-focused outreach.\n\n\n\nUse hashtags #PlayCleanGoWeek and #PlayCleanGo in your outreach and posts.\n\n\n\nTag PlayCleanGo® so we can help amplify your efforts:\n\n@PlayCleanGo on Facebook and Twitter\n\n\n\n@Play.Clean.Go on Instagram\n\n\n\n\n\nShare your story PlayCleanGo® story with us by uploading a photo at:playcleango.org/take-action/photo-release-form\n\n\n\n\nDozens of free outreach materials are available at PlayCleanGo.org\, including graphics\, messaging templates\, and multilingual resources. Download the PlayCleanGo® Starter Kit to help promote this important campaign and encourage your community to Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks™!
URL:https://naisma.org/event/playcleango-awareness-week-2/
CATEGORIES:In-Person,PlayCleanGo®
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCGweek.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250618T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250618T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250709T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250709T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250513T121134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T121223Z
UID:132942-1752066000-1752069600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Identifying the Diversity of Phyllachora Species Causing Corn Tar Spot and Their Potential to Infect Grasses
DESCRIPTION:Tar spot of corn is a recent and increasing threat to US corn production\, but has been known in other countries of the Americas for over a century. The disease is known to be caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis\, which has been considered the only Phyllachora species reported to infect corn until a recent study suggested that various Phyllachora species may infect corn and possess a broader host range. In this webinar\, José will highlight his current research which focuses on identifying the host range and diversity of Phyllachora species associated with corn. His research aims to identify the diversity of Phyllachora species infecting corn and their host range\, and to determine if other Phyllachora fungi that infect grasses can infect corn. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJosé E. Solórzano is a PhD student at the University of Minnesota\, currently researching tar spot of corn\, an emerging plant disease. Originally from Danlí\, El Paraíso\, Honduras\, he grew up working with crops and animals\, fostering a strong connection to nature. José earned a bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Agricultura y Ganaderia (UNAG) in Honduras. In 2016\, he participated in a study abroad program at Texas Tech University\, focusing on animal production and food safety. During his senior year at UNAG\, he received a research scholar position at Louisiana State University (LSU) to study fungal secondary metabolites. After completing his master’s degree at LSU in 2021\, José began his PhD studies at the University of Minnesota\, where he continues his work on plant disease research.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-identifying-the-diversity-of-phyllachora-species-causing-corn-tar-spot-and-their-potential-to-infect-grasses/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/iStock-2208708679.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250820T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250820T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250530T144417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250805T160508Z
UID:133404-1755694800-1755700200@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Research Spotlight: Managing the European Green Crab Invasion
DESCRIPTION:The European green crab is spreading rapidly along the Pacific Coast\, threatening ecosystems and aquaculture. In this webinar\, three experts will share new research on how we can better understand and manage this invasive species. \n\n\n\n\nAbby Keller (UC Berkeley) will explore how decision theory can guide when to try to remove green crabs—or when to adapt to their presence—as populations grow beyond control.\n\n\n\nMary Fisher (UC Davis) will present research from Willapa Bay\, WA\, using DNA metabarcoding tools to uncover what green crabs are eating and how their diet differs between aquaculture sites and natural habitats.\n\n\n\nRikke Jeppesen (Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board) will share findings on how native sea otters may help keep green crab populations in check in California estuaries.\n\n\n\n\nThis webinar is a great opportunity for anyone interested in invasive species\, coastal ecosystems\, and science-based management. This webinar is being jointly hosted by NAISMA and Sea Grant. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe transition from resistance to acceptance: managing a marine invasive species in a changing worldPresented by Abby KellerOften the pace of European green crab spread and establishment outpaces resources available for population suppression. When should a manager “resist” change by removing green crab or “accept” change by investing resources in adaptation? We use concepts from decision theory to develop a framework for navigating management decisions in this resist-accept paradigm\, highlighting scenarios when population control can no longer shape the invasion trajectory. \n\n\n\nWhat can diet DNA tell us about predation impacts of an invasive marine species?Presented by Mary FisherThe invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) has recently increased in abundance and expanded its distribution in the US Pacific Northwest\, generating concern for estuarine ecosystems and aquaculture production. However\, regionally-specific information on the trophic impacts of invasive green crab is very limited. We used diet DNA metabarcoding (“diet DNA”) to compare the stomach contents of green crabs collected on clam aquaculture beds versus intertidal sloughs in Willapa Bay\, Washington\, providing the first in-depth description of European green crab diet at a crucial time for regional management. We first identified 54 putative prey items using DNA metabarcoding of stomach content samples from 61 green crabs. Arthropods were the most frequently detected prey\, with the native hairy shore crab (Hemigrapsus oregonensis) the single most common prey item. We then compared diet composition across sites using prey presence/absence and an index of species-specific relative abundance. We found that the stomach contents of crabs collected from clam aquaculture beds were significantly different from the stomach contents of crabs collected at intertidal sloughs. For eight prey species\, we also calibrated diet DNA data to quantitatively compare DNA abundance between prey taxa\, to describe an ‘average’ green crab diet at an intertidal slough versus a clam aquaculture bed. In addition to providing timely information on green crab diet\, our research demonstrates the novel application of a recently developed model for more quantitative DNA metabarcoding. This represents another step in the ongoing evolution of DNA-based diet analysis towards producing the quantitative data necessary for modeling invasive species impacts.Associated paper (open access): Fisher et al. 2024. Invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) predation in a Washington State estuary revealed with DNA metabarcoding.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302518 \n\n\n\nRecovering population of the southern sea otter suppresses the green crab\, a global marine invaderPresented by Rikke JeppesenUnderstanding the role of apex predators on ecosystems is essential for designing effective conservation strategies. Supporting recovery of apex predators can have many benefits; one that has been rarely examined is control of invasive prey. We investigated whether a recovering apex predator\, the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)\, can exert local control over a global marine invader\, the green crab (Carcinus maenas). We determined that southern sea otters in Elkhorn Slough estuary in California can consume large numbers of invasive green crabs and found strong negative relationships in space and time between otter and green crab abundance. Green crabs persisted at highest abundance in this estuary at sites with artificial tidal restriction that were not accessible to otters. Green crab abundance remained lower in this estuary than in all other estuaries in the region\, which lack resident sea otters. Conservation organizations and agencies have invested heavily in recovery of southern sea otters\, increasing their numbers in this estuary. Restoration of natural tidal exchange\, lost marshes\, and seagrass beds further support sea otter populations. We have demonstrated that these investments in top predator recovery and habitat restoration have reduced the impacts of a global invader. Our investigation highlights that investment in recovery of top predators can increase beneficial food web interactions and resilience of the entire ecosystem. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbby Keller is a PhD candidate in Environmental Science\, Policy\, and Management at the University of California\, Berkeley. She studies decision analysis and quantitative ecology. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Fisher is a postdoctural scholar at the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute at the University of California\, Davis. She is an interdisciplinary marine scientist interested in how adaptation to climate change affects coupled human-natural systems. Her research has drawn on quantitative and qualitative techniques to explore trade-offs and unexpected consequences associated with climate adaptation in US West Coast fisheries. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRikke Jeppesen has a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of California Santa Cruz. She is currently an Environmental Scientist at the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board\, San Luis Obispo. Her green crab studies were conducted at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve where she studied invasive invertebrates\, while also working on water quality research and large-scale salt marsh restoration projects.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-research-spotlight-managing-the-european-green-crab-invasion/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crabsgreen2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250827T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250827T150000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250623T171006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T164356Z
UID:133760-1756292400-1756306800@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Invasive Upcycling Summit
DESCRIPTION:Join Invasive Impact Initiatives and the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) for the Invasive Upcycling Summit—a virtual event highlighting how creativity and environmental stewardship can intersect to solve pressing ecological challenges caused by invasive species. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nThis interactive summit will feature changemakers who are transforming invasive species into useful\, sustainable products by collaborating with local invasive experts. Along the way\, they’re also educating communities about the ecological damage invasive species cause and inspiring new approaches to environmental care and circular design. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re a conservationist\, artist\, educator\, or curious citizen\, you’ll walk away with fresh tools\, connections\, and ideas to reimagine restoration and resilience in your own community. \n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\nLearn more about Invasive Impact Initiatives at invasiveimpact.org. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers\n\n\n\n\n\nLorena James\, Invasive Impact Initiatives\n\n\n\n\n\nLorena James is an ecopreneur and founder of Invasive Impact Initiatives\, a youth-led platform dedicated to uplifting and connecting invasive species upcyclers worldwide. Based between Buffalo\, NY – on Haudenosaunee land – and Charlotte\, NC – on the traditional lands of the Catawba\, Cheraw\, Sugeree\, and Waxhaw peoples – Lorena builds networks\, resources\, and public awareness to transform ecological challenges into creative environmental solutions. Through workshops\, toolkits\, and storytelling\, she amplifies voices in the invasive upcycling community—highlighting innovations from art supplies to regenerative materials. Her work centers on collaboration\, circularity\, and intergenerational learning\, fostering a global community restoring ecosystems and reimagining our relationship with nature. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoshua Ralph\, Invasive Art Initiative\n\n\n\n\n\nJoshua Ralph is a community-engaged eco-artist and facilitator originally from Treaty 2 Territory\, of mixed English\, Scottish\, and Métis heritage. Based on the unceded lands of the Squamish\, Musqueam\, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations\, they lead Invasive Art Initiative — a traveling project that transforms invasive plant species into art supplies like pencils\, inks\, soaps\, and paper\, intertwining ecology and creative expression. Their work\, rooted in caring for changing ecologies\, spans workshops\, field restoration\, and public outreach. Joshua has collaborated with numerous environmental groups\, facilitated public speaking events\, and gained recognition for innovative environmental outreach. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nErica Mulder\, Bramble Threads\n\n\n\n\n\nErica Mulder is the creative force behind Bramble Threads\, where she champions eco-art by transforming invasive plants into engaging\, usable crafts. Through hands-on workshops—like creating wreaths from native and invasive species—she educates communities on sustainable stewardship and local ecosystems. Featured in events such as the Eco-Arts Festival “Free the Fern\,” Erica highlights the beauty and utility found in overlooked plants like invasive ivy. With a passion for land-care and upcycling\, her work blurs the lines between art\, ecology\, and education\, inspiring others to reimagine nature’s resources and nurture a deeper connection to their surroundings. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJade Hoyer\, Colors of Home\n\n\n\n\n\nJade Hoyer is a Minnesota-based artist and educator whose practice engages social and environmental narratives through printmaking\, hand-papermaking\, and installation. She has explored the ecological and cultural implications of invasive plant species\, transforming them into papermaking fibers and art materials. By reimagining these species as creative resources\, Jade invites conversations on environmental stewardship\, colonial histories\, and human impact on ecosystems. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally\, and is included in collections from the Philippines to Brazil. As an assistant professor of art at Carleton College\, she integrates invasive upcycling into her teaching\, fostering dialogue at the intersection of art and ecology. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYolanda Barrios\, CONABIO\, Facilitator for Mexican Artisan Collaborators (XCAL ‘ ARTE)\n\n\n\n\n\nYolanda Barrios is a seasoned invasive species specialist at Mexico’s National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO)\, with over 15 years of expertise in conservation biology and science communication. She holds a master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Kent and has been instrumental in developing Mexico’s National Strategy for invasive species\, including the country’s first official invasive species list and a tailored risk-assessment methodology. Yolanda leads efforts to maintain and expand Mexico’s invasive species database\, conduct risk assessments\, and create educational campaigns—bridging government\, academia\, and the public to advance national and regional invasive species programs. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlivia Beadell-Kaplan\, Inversa Leathers\n\n\n\n\n\nAlivia Beadell-Kaplan is the Strategy & Operations Lead at INVERSA Leathers\, where she drives the company’s mission to turn invasive species into regenerative\, high-quality leathers that heal ecosystems. From lionfish in the Atlantic to python in the Everglades\, she helps scale nature-positive supply chains that reward environmental restoration. With a background in economics\, strategy\, and cross-cultural communication\, Alivia blends business acumen with a passion for conservation to create lasting impact. Her work ensures INVERSA’s growth aligns with its core goal: transforming ecological threats into sustainable resources that protect biodiversity\, support local communities\, and inspire a reimagined relationship with the natural world. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMike Mitchell\, Pezzy Pets\n\n\n\n\n\nMike Mitchell is the founder and CEO of Pezzy Pets which transforms invasive fish species into eco-friendly pet treats. Drawing from his background as a fisheries researcher in the U.S. and Mexico\, Mike identified the ecological and economic challenges posed by species like the armored catfish\, lionfish\, and silver carp. In 2015\, he began collaborating with local fishermen and chefs to create sustainable products\, leading to the launch of Pezzy Pets in 2021. The company has since removed over 100 tons of invasive fish\, supporting biodiversity restoration and providing fair-wage employment in fishing communities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSydney Rodman\, Green Revival\n\n\n\n\n\nSydney Rodman is the founder and CEO of Green Revival\, a company dedicated to transforming invasive plant species into valuable biomass for sustainable industries. Inspired by her early conservation work removing invasive plants from Lake George in Upstate New York\, Sydney recognized the inefficiencies in post-harvest practices and sought a solution to increase circular economy efficiency. With a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rice University\, she applies her expertise to streamline species identification and coordinate logistics for proprietary manufacturing. Green Revival aims to solve the invasive plant crisis and serve biomass buyers by providing reliable\, local\, and cost-effective plant feedstock. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIvoRi Schley\, Co-Founder\, AfroAg Community\n\n\n\n\n\nIvoRi Schley is a fiber artist\, geographer\, farmer\, and environmental educator from Clayton County\, Georgia. As founder of AfroAg\, she centers Afro-Indigenous knowledge to reconnect communities with the land through sustainable agriculture\, fiber arts\, and environmental education. IvoRi’s work prominently addresses invasive species like kudzu\, offering workshops that explore their ecological impact while promoting creative reuse and stewardship. Through her programming\, she inspires cultural resilience and a deeper understanding of local ecosystems\, encouraging communities to transform environmental challenges into opportunities for renewal and connection. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAyurella Horn-Muller\, Grist Journalist\n\n\n\n\n\nAyurella Horn-Muller is an award-winning journalist and nonfiction author of Devoured: The Extraordinary Story of Kudzu\, the Vine That Ate the South. Based in Florida\, she reports for the nonprofit newsroom Grist covering climate change\, food\, and agriculture. Published by Louisiana State University Press\, her book explores the ecological and cultural complexities of kudzu\, including innovative upcycling efforts that transform one of the nation’s most prolific invasive vines into useful materials. By highlighting both challenges and creative solutions\, Ayurella offers a nuanced perspective on human relationships with invasive species and inspires new approaches to environmental stewardship in the American South. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWinslow Robinson\, fableForestry\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Winslow Robinson is the founder of fableForestry\, an organization dedicated to combating invasive forest pathogens in New England. Using drone technology\, hyperspectral imaging\, and behavioral science\, he leads efforts for early detection and management of invasive species. He applies advanced tools to provide targeted control methods. Beyond forest health\, Fable Forestry contributes to environmental sustainability by producing biochar\, a carbon-negative byproduct of its invasive species management. Winslow’s approach highlights how technology and conservation can work together to address ecological challenges effectively. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTarsh Thekaekara\, The Great Elephant Migration\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Tarsh Thekaekara is a conservation scientist from India’s Nilgiri Hills\, with a PhD in human–elephant interactions and an MSc in Biodiversity\, Conservation\, and Management. As director of The Real Elephant Collective and trustee of The Shola Trust\, Tarsh spearheads The Great Elephant Migration’s groundbreaking upcycling work—removing the invasive Lantana camara from forests and transforming it into majestic\, life-sized elephant sculptures. This creative reuse restores wildlife habitat\, sequesters carbon through biochar production\, and supports indigenous livelihoods. Blending science\, art\, and community engagement\, Tarsh’s work offers a powerful model for conservation that harmonizes human needs with the survival of elephants.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/invasive-upcycling-summit/
CATEGORIES:Summit,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Invasive-Upcycling-Summit-Flyersmall.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250917T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250917T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250422T163932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250905T124751Z
UID:125993-1758114000-1758119400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Islands Under Siege: Combating Invasive Species to Protect Unique Island Ecosystems
DESCRIPTION:Islands are home to some of the world’s most unique and vulnerable ecosystems—and also some of the most threatened by invasive species. Join us for a powerful and inspiring webinar exploring the impacts of invasive species on island biodiversity and the dedicated efforts to restore and protect these fragile environments. \n\n\n\nWe’ll hear from David Sischo with the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources\, who will share the vital work of the Snail Extinction Prevention Program\, a conservation initiative focused on saving Hawaiʻi’s imperiled native tree snails from the brink of extinction in the face of invasive predators. \n\n\n\nWe’ll also be joined by Luciana Luna Mendoza\, Director of Ecology at GECI (Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas)\, who will take us through the remarkable ecological restoration of Guadalupe Island. From the removal of feral goats to landscape-scale reforestation efforts beginning in 2014\, her presentation will highlight both passive and active restoration strategies that have helped revive this critical island ecosystem. \n\n\n\nRounding out the panel is Jose Luis Herrera-Giraldo\, Project Manager at Island Conservation\, who serves as the Point of Contact for the organization’s activities in Puerto Rico\, the U.S. Virgin Islands\, and the Dominican Republic. Jose Luis will present on the effort to restore Savana Island\, a vital habitat for the endangered Virgin Islands Tree Boa. Invasive black rats\, which prey on the boa’s eggs\, juveniles\, and even adults\, pose a serious threat to its survival. This project aims to eradicate invasive rats using cutting-edge aerial conservation techniques and restore the island as a safe refuge for native wildlife. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSaving Hawaiʻi’s Jewels Of The Forest – Widespread Land Snail Extinction Driven By Introduced SpeciesPresented by David R. SischoWith over 750 described species in 13 families\, the Hawaiian Islands were host to spectacular land snail diversity found nowhere else in the world\, a true scientific spectacle of evolution. Unfortunately\, the past century has witnessed accelerating range reductions and extinction of much of this incredible fauna\, due largely to introduced predators. Recent catastrophic declines\, observed in wild populations across islands\, are heralding the end for many species. It is estimated that we are on the verge of losing 10 genera of land snail\, comprising approximately 100 species\, within the next 10 years. In a rush to prevent extinction\, the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources – Snail Extinction Prevention Program (SEPP)\, and partners across the state\, are “manning the lifeboats”. Here we will go over the novel techniques being used to save Hawaiʻi’s “Jewels of the Forest” including\, predator-proof fencing\, predator control\, invasive species detection dogs\, captive propagation\, translocation\, and reintroduction. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSaving the Guadalupe Island forest from extinctionPresented by Luciana LunaGuadalupe Island\, Mexico\, located in the Eastern Pacific\, is a priority site in terms of biodiversity conservation. It is a Protected Area\, as well as an Important Bird Area and an Alliance for Zero Extinction site. Several vegetation communities\, including forests\, woodlands\, and native grasslands\, dominated the landscape; some of the representative species were the endemics Cupressus guadalupensis and Brahea edulis. Feral goats were introduced in the 19th century and had devastating consequences on the island’s flora: most of the plant communities disappeared\, and at least 26 plant taxa became extinct or extirpated. The successful eradication of goats in 2005-2007 was the beginning of the island’s recovery. Yet\, to achieve the island’s full recovery\, active restoration actions were needed\, including landscape restoration through reforestation\, soil management\, and fire risk prevention. The island’s fauna has also benefited from restoration\, particularly invertebrates and landbirds such as the endemic Guadalupe Junco (Junco insularis; Endangered) that rely on forests for their survival. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDavid R. Sischo\, Wildlife Biologist\, Department of Land and Natural ResourcesDavid Sischo is a Wildlife Biologist specializing in the conservation of Pacific Island land snails\, one of the most extinction-prone fauna in the world. David is based in Honolulu Hawaiʻi\, where he has coordinated the Snail Extinction Prevention Program (SEPP)\, for the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources\, since its founding in 2012. Known as the “Jewels of the Forest”\, over 100 species of Hawaiian land snails\, without conservation intervention\, are facing oblivion within the next decade due to introduced species and climate change impacts. David and his team are on the very front lines of extinction working to build the capacity to intervene in and accommodate this onslaught. He oversees a multitude of partnership conservation and research projects across the state including\, rare species monitoring\, surveys\, translocations and reintroductions\, threat abatement\, strategic planning\, and a land snail captive-rearing program that maintains over 40 of the Hawaiian Island’s rarest species. David received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution from California State University Fresno\, and his Master’s and PhD in Zoology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLuciana Luna is a conservation biologist with a PhD in Biological Sciences. For over two decades\, Luciana has been dedicated to active conservation work on Guadalupe Island\, a unique 247 km2 volcanic island in the Mexican Pacific\, located 260 km off mainland México. There she was involved in the feral goat eradication\, a 3-year program that successfully concluded in 2007. She has witnessed and measured the remarkable recovery of Guadalupe’s flora after the goats were gone\, particularly of the endemic cypress\, pine and palm\, as well as of many coastal sage scrub and chaparral species\, and participated in the active restoration actions to recover the original vegetation communities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJose Luis Herrera-Giraldo\, Project Manager\, Island ConservationJose Luis earned a MS in biology from the University of Puerto Rico\, conducting research with the amphibians and reptiles composition in the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge at Vieques Island in Puerto Rico. Before joining IC in 2011\, Jose Luis held various positions related to natural resources conservation\, including working with Envirosurvey Inc\, a conservation and wildlife organization based in Puerto Rico\, conducting forest and wildlife assessments and outreach campaigns promoting conservation practices in partnership with state and federal governmental agencies. For two years he worked with to manage sea turtle nesting habitat and hatchlings and has conducted additional ecological work with amphibian and reptile species as a private consultant or volunteer. From 2009 to 2010\, Jose Luis started working on Desecheo Island with the UCSC Conservation Measures Program\, doing surveys for a single-island endemic gecko and assisting the ecosystem restoration project on Desecheo through the removal of invasive predators. At Island Conservation\, he supports and leads various restoration work on islands such as Desecheo\, Juan Fernández\, Cabritos\, Alto Velo\, Antipodes and Mona for the benefits of threatened and unique species. Jose Luis is currently serving as the Point of Contact for the Island Conservation’s activities in Puerto Rico\, the U.S Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-islands-under-siege-combating-invasive-species-to-protect-unique-island-ecosystems/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/iStock-1299849270.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251008T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251008T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250624T170619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T163808Z
UID:133780-1759928400-1759932000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer: Applying California’s Lessons to Support Management Efforts in Western Australia
DESCRIPTION:The polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) is a tiny but devastating invasive beetle that poses a major threat to urban forests and natural ecosystems. First detected in California in 2003 and more recently in Western Australia\, PSHB carries a fungal pathogen that disrupts water and nutrient flow in trees\, leading to branch dieback and\, in severe cases\, tree death. \n\n\n\nJoin us for this insightful webinar as Dr. Shannon Lynch shares lessons learned from decades of PSHB management in California—including surveillance\, host tree impacts\, and community engagement strategies—and how these experiences are shaping Western Australia’s response to this emerging threat. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Shannon Lynch is an Assistant Professor of Forest Pathology and Plant Disease Ecology at the University of California Davis in the Department of Plant Pathology. Her career has been dedicated to effectively responding to emergent pests and pathogens as drivers of global change in forest ecosystems. She develops new analytical approaches that merge large-scale monitoring with tools from phylogenetic ecology and climate science to create predictive epidemiological models of the spread of novel pests and pathogens over heterogeneous landscapes. She complements this work by combining culture-dependent approaches with metagenomics to examine how tree microbiomes shape host resilience to destructive pathogens. Finally\, she combines analytical and community-based approaches to understand the intersecting impacts of environmental injustice\, urban forest pathogens\, and climate change on disadvantaged communities in cities and urban forest systems.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-polyphagous-shot-hole-borer-applying-californias-lessons-to-support-management-efforts-in-western-australia/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/euwallacea-fornicatus.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251103T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251106T170000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250122T133924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T140105Z
UID:124788-1762156800-1762448400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:2025 NAISMA Annual Conference
DESCRIPTION:The 2025 NAISMA Annual Conference is headed to the breathtaking shores of Lake Tahoe! Mark your calendars for November 3–6\, 2025\, and join us at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline\, Nevada\, for an inspiring and impactful event. \n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy Attend?The NAISMA Annual Conference is your opportunity to connect with leading professionals\, discover the latest innovations in invasive species management\, and contribute to shaping the future of our field. From engaging keynotes to hands-on workshops\, this event offers a rich program for attendees from diverse backgrounds. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStay at Harrah’s Lake TahoeExperience comfort and convenience at our conference venue\, with an unbeatable room rate of $59 per night. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe offers modern amenities\, stunning mountain and lake views\, and a range of dining and entertainment options to make your stay unforgettable. \n\n\n\nExplore Lake TahoeWhile you’re here\, take time to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe. From outdoor adventures to world-class dining\, there’s plenty to explore before or after the conference.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/2025-naisma-annual-conference/
CATEGORIES:Conferences,In-Person,Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lake-tahoe-2183724_1280.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251119T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251119T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250409T125728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251021T163804Z
UID:125787-1763557200-1763562600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Harnessing AI for Invasive Species Detection: Smart Traps\, Drones\, and Machine Learning in Action
DESCRIPTION:Join us this November for a dynamic webinar showcasing how artificial intelligence is transforming invasive species detection and monitoring across ecosystems. Through innovative applications like smart traps\, drones\, and machine learning\, researchers and practitioners are unlocking new tools to manage biological invasions more effectively and efficiently. \n\n\n\nDr. Melissa Miller from the University of Florida will present her work on developing AI-powered smart traps designed to detect and remove invasive tegu lizards—large\, fast-moving reptiles that threaten native wildlife and agriculture in the southeastern U.S. Dr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller from the University of Exeter will share his team’s research on using deep learning models to detect invasive hornets in real time\, offering critical insights for rapid response and containment. Representing Ducks Unlimited Canada\, Matthew Bolding and Mallory Carpenter will discuss their efforts to integrate drone technology and AI to monitor populations of European water chestnut\, a fast-spreading aquatic invasive plant impacting wetland biodiversity and water quality. \n\n\n\nThis webinar will highlight how emerging technologies are being adapted and applied to meet the challenges of invasive species detection in the field—providing a glimpse into the future of smart conservation. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nArtificial Intelligence Based Smart Traps Increase Effectiveness and Reduce Resources Compared to Traditional TrapsPresented by Melissa A. MillerInvasive species management can be limited due to a lack of sustained resources needed to elicit an effective outcome. Live trapping has proven to be an effective means of detection and removal of certain invasive species such as the Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae). However\, research has shown that trapping efforts for this species may be most effective when traps are operated for sustained periods of time with high trap saturation in suitable habitats. These requirements pose a challenge for natural resource managers as traditional means of trapping are often labor and time intensive. Yet recent development of an automated smart trapping system\, designed by Wild Vision Systems (WVS)\, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) for capture of tegus holds promise for improving many resource concerns. The WVS smart traps can be fully operated remotely via a software application and the AI software is designed to selectively trap a target species of interest\, while excluding capture of bycatch. During May – October 2023\, we collaborated with WVS for the first field deployment of smart traps to capture tegus in St. Lucie County\, FL where an incipient population has established. Specifically\, we conducted a comparison study to evaluate the efficacy of smart traps versus traditional (i.e.\, non-smart) traps for the capture of invasive tegu lizards. We observed a higher number of tegus captured in smart traps compared to traditional traps\, as well as a correspondingly higher CPUE for smart traps. Moreover\, use of smart traps resulted in significantly less non-target species captures and reduced labor costs relative to traditional traps. These results indicate that smart traps can have significant advantages over traditional traps regarding selective trapping of target species and reduced bycatch rates\, resulting in a reduction of required resources and increased efficacy of invasive species management. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVespAI: Applying Deep Learning to the Detection of Invasive Hornets Presented by Thomas O’Shea-WhellerThe invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is a rapidly proliferating threat to biodiversity and apiculture in Europe\, East Asia\, and North America. To date\, authorities have struggled to contain the hornets\, as colonies must be detected and destroyed early in the invasion curve if establishment is to be prevented. Current monitoring approaches rely primarily upon visual alerts by the public and surveillance trapping\, however the former yields less than 0.01% accuracy\, while the latter kills substantial numbers of native invertebrates. With the continuing spread of V. velutina\, there is thus a pressing need to develop improved monitoring technologies within a limited timeframe. In this talk\, I outline VespAI\, an automated system for the rapid detection and behavioural quantification of V. velutina\, V. crabro\, and V. orientalis. VespAI leverages a hardware-assisted AI approach\, combining a standardised monitoring station with deep YOLO architecture\, trained on a bespoke end-to-end pipeline. This enables the system to detect hornets in real-time—achieving a precision-recall score of ≥0.99—and send associated image alerts via a compact remote processor. I discuss the development\, performance\, and future deployment of the system\, and highlight its potential to enhance the scope and sustainability of invasive hornet surveillance at a global scale. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUsing RPAS and AI for Improved Management of Aquatic Invasive SpeciesPresented by Matthew Bolding and Mallory CarpenterManagement of aquatic invasive species is vital to protect at-risk ecosystems and habitat for species at risk\, yet managing invasive species like European water chestnut can demand significant time\, funding\, and staff resources—especially in hard-to-access areas. To help address these challenges\, Ducks Unlimited Canada partnered with Saiwa Inc. to develop an innovative\, AI-powered surveillance tool that enhances early detection while reducing operational costs. By analyzing imagery captured by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)\, the tool uses machine learning to identify the location of European water chestnut plants and provides GPS coordinates to support targeted management efforts. After successful field testing in 2024\, the tool has been integrated into an ongoing invasive species control program and is being adapted to detect other threats\, such as invasive water soldier. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller\, University of ExeterDr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller is interested in the complex interactions that govern collective behavior\, ecology\, and self-organization within social insects. As a Research Fellow based at the University of Exeter\, he works with ants\, bees\, hornets\, and termites to explore colony network dynamics\, social plasticity\, and behavioral heterogeneity in invasive contexts. His current research includes projects pertaining to honey bee epidemiology\, collective decision-making in ants\, and the detection of invasive species using artificial intelligence. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Melissa Miller\, University of FloridaDr. Miller specializes in invasion ecology with a focus on understanding mechanisms through which biological invasions impact native ecosystems. Through applied and basic research of large invasive reptiles in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem\, she addresses ecological and evolutionary questions to further our understanding of invasions and aid natural resource managers in invasive species control efforts. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMatthew Bolding\, Ducks Unlimited CanadaMatt Bolding leads the Ontario invasive species program at Ducks Unlimited Canada where his team is working to advance drone surveillance tools for aquatic invasive species and supporting the development and implementation of Phragmites biological control. Matt has been working with Phragmites since 2016 and has been involved in monitoring around Phragmites treatment at Long Point\, Big Creek and the St. Clair NWA. Matt is currently the Eastern Regional Coordinator for the Ontario Phragmites Action program. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMallory Carpenter\, Ducks Unlimited CanadaMallory Carpenter is a GIS specialist with Ducks Unlimited Canada. Based in Ottawa\, she is part of the team integrating image processing and artificial intelligence techniques to help automate the detection of European water chestnut.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-harnessing-ai-for-invasive-species-detection-smart-traps-drones-and-machine-learning-in-action/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/drones2323.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251204T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251204T150000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250908T120036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260121T232806Z
UID:136023-1764846000-1764860400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Annual Biocontrol Summit: Successes in Biocontrol – Weed Management’s Silent Hero
DESCRIPTION:The North American Invasive Species Management Association’s 6th Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit will be held virtually on December 4\, 2025\, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CST. This annual event shares the latest advances in classical weed biocontrol research with invasive plant managers and educators across North America\, fostering connections between researchers and on-the-ground practitioners. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTRATION\n\n\n\n\nThis year\, the Classical Biocontrol Committee will highlight the often-overlooked successes of biocontrol—stories of meaningful impact that rarely make headlines. Our invited speakers include both broad-scope land managers and leading biocontrol experts\, each sharing firsthand experiences of success—whether through measurable reductions in target weeds or through enhanced community engagement. With current decreases in funding\, support\, and federal biocontrol positions in the U.S.\, many potential future successes are at risk of being lost. These proven programs can serve as models for future programs and demonstrate the value of continued support for biocontrol efforts. \n\n\n\n\nAGENDA
URL:https://naisma.org/event/annual-biocontrol-summit-successes-in-biocontrol-weed-managements-silent-hero/
CATEGORIES:Summit,Virtual
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251209T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251209T160000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250625T124115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T141132Z
UID:133787-1765281600-1765296000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference: Day 1
DESCRIPTION:Please join us for the 2nd annual International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference (IISCCC) organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network on December 9 and 10\, 2025. This conference is VIRTUAL allowing for more international attendance while reducing our carbon footprint. Please click on the link below to register for both days of this event (a single registration link will be used for the duration of the event). \n\n\n\n\nWebinar Link\n\n\n\n\nConference registration is free and features topics including sessions on: \n\n\n\n\nManagement success stories\n\n\n\nUnderstanding and managing pathways\n\n\n\nRestoring to the future\n\n\n\nEarly career research\n\n\n\nAnd more!\n\n\n\n\nBecause biological invasions and climate change are global issues that know no boundaries\, the IISCCC strives to create space to share research and management practices\, expand networks\, and promote translational experiences. \n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\nFeatured Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlenary Speaker Day 1 (Dec. 9\, 2025): Dr. Silvia Ziller\, The Horus Institute for Environmental Conservation and Development \n\n\n\nChallenges of restoring invaded coastal ecosystems in the face of climate change (and people) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlenary Speaker Day 2 (Dec. 10\, 2025): Dr. Ross N. Cuthbert\, School of Biological Sciences\, Queen’s University Belfast \n\n\n\nEconomic costs from biological invasions: will climate change exacerbate their escalation?
URL:https://naisma.org/event/international-invasive-species-and-climate-change-conference/
CATEGORIES:Conferences,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ccc1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251210T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251210T160000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250731T193330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T141243Z
UID:134926-1765368000-1765382400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference: Day 2
DESCRIPTION:Please join us for the 2nd annual International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference (IISCCC) organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network on December 9 and 10\, 2025. This conference is VIRTUAL allowing for more international attendance while reducing our carbon footprint. Please click on the link below to register for both days of this event (a single registration link will be used for the duration of the event). \n\n\n\n\nWebinar Link\n\n\n\n\nConference registration is free and features topics including sessions on: \n\n\n\n\nClimate disasters and invasive species\n\n\n\nManagement success stories\n\n\n\nUnderstanding and managing pathways\n\n\n\nRestoring to the future\n\n\n\nEarly career research\n\n\n\nAnd more!\n\n\n\n\nBecause biological invasions and climate change are global issues that know no boundaries\, the IISCCC strives to create space to share research and management practices\, expand networks\, and promote translational experiences. \n\n\n\n\nAGENDA\n\n\n\n\nFeatured Speakers\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlenary Speaker Day 1 (Dec. 9\, 2025): Dr. Silvia Ziller\, The Horus Institute for Environmental Conservation and Development \n\n\n\nChallenges of restoring invaded coastal ecosystems in the face of climate change (and people) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlenary Speaker Day 2 (Dec. 10\, 2025): Dr. Ross N. Cuthbert\, School of Biological Sciences\, Queen’s University Belfast \n\n\n\nEconomic costs from biological invasions: will climate change exacerbate their escalation?
URL:https://naisma.org/event/international-invasive-species-and-climate-change-conference-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Conferences,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ccc1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251217T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251217T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20250908T115303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T155022Z
UID:136014-1765976400-1765981800@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Biocontrol Allies: Managing Spotted Lanternfly and Tree-of-Heaven
DESCRIPTION:Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) are closely linked invasive species that continue to threaten North American forests\, agriculture\, and ecosystems. This webinar will explore promising biocontrol solutions aimed at managing these invasive pests. \n\n\n\n\nDr. Hannah Broadley (USDA APHIS): An update on the search for and use of natural enemies to manage spotted lanternfly.\n\n\n\nDr. Scott Salom (Virginia Tech): An introduction to tree-of-heaven and research on the use of weevils and fungi as biocontrol agents\, including their potential for area-wide suppression.\n\n\n\nDr. Francesca Marini (BBCA): An overview of tree-of-heaven biology and the use of mite biocontrol in a North American context.\n\n\n\n\nJoin us to learn about the prospects for integrating multiple agents and the future of managing these invasive species through emerging solutions to one of the most pressing invasive species challenges facing our forests\, landscapes\, and communities. \n\n\n\n\nWEBINAR LINK\n\n\n\n\nClosing in on use of weevils and fungi as allies towards area-wide suppression of tree-of-heaven\, a critical host of spotted lanternflyPresented by Dr. Scott M. Salom\, Department of Entomology\, Virginia Tech \n\n\n\nA host-specific native fungal wilt pathogen is being developed as a bioherbicide for use against tree-of-heaven. It has demonstrated significant efficacy in field trials and its development towards eventual availability in the US is looking like a real possibility. Concurrently\, a weevil native to China and host-specific pest of this tree in its native habitat\, has been studied extensively in China and in Quarantine in the US. It attacks the tree under the bark and kills trees that are under stress. In the lab the weevil has been shown to readily inoculate the seedlings with the fungus when feeding on the stems. This weevil is close to being approved for release by USDA APHIS. Once both biological control agents are approved\, efforts will focus on determining how best to deploy them\, alone and together\, with the goal of maximizing their efficacy.  \n\n\n\nAn update on evaluations of candidate biological control agents to manage spotted lanternfly populationsPresented by Dr. Hannah Broadley\, Supervisory Biological Scientist\, USDA APHIS \n\n\n\nIn this talk\, Dr. Broadley will provide an overview of natural enemies of spotted lanternfly\, with a focus on parasitoids being evaluated for classical (or importation) biological control. Natural enemies of spotted lanternfly are present both in the native range and invasive ranges of spotted lanternfly and host specific species are being considered and evaluated as candidate biological control agents. In particular\, the focus of this work is on parasitoids of spotted lanternfly from the native range of China including the egg parasitoid Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) and the nymphal parasitoid Dryinus sinicus (Hymenoptera: Dryinid). Extensive testing determined A. orientalis to have too broad of a host range to warrant further testing. However\, from testing to date\, D. sinicus appears to be a promising candidate biological agent. This presentation will also include a summary of evaluations of natural enemies of spotted lanternfly in Vietnam\, where spotted lanternfly is also native\, and South Korea and Japan\, which both have invasive populations. \n\n\n\nA tiny arthropod\, Aculus taihangensis\, for the management of the global invader Tree of heavenPresented by Dr. Francesca Marini\, Research Leader\, BBCA \n\n\n\nOriginally from China but recently recorded also outside its native range\, Aculus taihangensis is an eriophyid mite species that attacks Tree of heaven. An overview of the potential of A. taihangensis as a biological control agent and its possible contribution to the long-term\, effective management of the tree of heaven will be provided. Host range testing with non-target species\, either phylogenetically or ecologically related to the Tree of heaven\, or economically important\, demonstrated the specificity of the mite for the target species. Field observations and impact testing revealed that the mite significantly reduces the biomass and fitness of new sprouts and seedlings. Finally\, the presentation will share preliminary results from an ongoing experiment studying the efficacy of combining the mite with a mechanical control method. This method shows promise for including A. taihangensis into an integrated management strategy for the control of Tree of heaven. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Scott M. Salom\, Department of Entomology\, Virginia TechDr. Salom is a Professor of Entomology at Virginia Tech focusing on forest pests. He has 25 years of experience in classical biological control. Much of the focus has been identifying\, studying\, implementing\, and assessing specialist natural enemies of hemlock woolly adelgid and tree-of-heaven. He has been the PI for 32 graduate students\, many of whom are professionals throughout and outside the US. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Hannah Broadley\, Supervisory Biological Scientist\, USDA APHISDr. Hannah Broadley is a Supervisory Biological Scientist with USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine\, Science & Technology. In her current work\, she leads or co-leads several biological control projects\, including developing biological control methods for spotted lanternfly\, box tree moth\, roseau cane scale\, cotton jassid\, and hemlock wooly adelgid. She earned her doctorate studying the population dynamics and biocontrol of the invasive winter moth. Dr. Broadley’s work includes domestic (invasive range) and international (native range) research and advances innovative\, science-based strategies to protect North American ecosystems from some of the most damaging invasive pests. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Francesca Marini\, Research Leader\, BBCADr. Francesca Marini is a researcher with over a decade of experience in classical biological control of weeds. As Research Leader at the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA) in Italy\, she is responsible for the management and coordination of weed and pest biological control projects\, in addition to developing of integrated management strategies. This involves exploring the area of origin of the target species\, collecting related biological control organisms\, and assessing their specificity and efficacy through laboratory and field host range tests. Her work contributes to the advancement of sustainable approaches for managing invasive species and protecting ecosystems.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-biocontrol-allies-managing-spotted-lanternfly-and-tree-of-heaven/
CATEGORIES:Virtual,Webinars
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260128T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260128T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20251216T132346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260102T153407Z
UID:137016-1769605200-1769610600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Rethinking Invasive Species Communication: Updates from National Workshops and Research
DESCRIPTION:This webinar will explore how the words we use to talk about invasive species can either support or undermine effective management. Drawing on insights from the Sea Grant-led Invasive Species Language Workshop hosted during National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2024\, speakers will look at message framing\, metaphors\, and naming conventions that can unintentionally reinforce xenophobia or exclusion\, as well as approaches that foster inclusion and collaboration instead. \n\n\n\nPresenters will also share early findings from a national survey on invasive species language and common names\, highlighting how different audiences perceive current terms and where there is support for change. Participants will come away with a better understanding of why language matters\, examples of more inclusive communication practices\, and ideas for improving outreach\, education\, and policy discussions around invasive species. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTim Campbell\, Wisconsin Sea GrantTim is the aquatic invasive species program manager for the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Program and the National AIS Liaison for the NOAA Sea Grant Program. He supports AIS prevention outreach\, communications\, and program evaluation\, and works to apply university and Sea Grant resources to AIS issues. He has been with Wisconsin Sea Grant since 2011. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEl Lower\, Michigan Sea GrantEl Lower works with the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS)\, developing and updating species profiles and maps used to track the spread of non-native species throughout the Great Lakes region. El combines experience in stakeholder engagement and science communication to create and promote outreach material on aquatic invasive species and their management efforts at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL) in Ann Arbor. When not combing through literature reviews or teaching kids about lampreys at tabling events\, El can usually be found out in the woods with a stack of field guides or testing new recipes featuring wild and local ingredients. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristine Gilbert\, PhD\, Stony Brook UniversityChristine is an assistant professor at Stony Brook University in New York with joint appointments in the Department of Communication and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Her research focuses on utilizing more effective communication strategies to improve outcomes in scientific and environmental contexts. In collaboration with colleagues\, she is currently working on a number of projects focused on understanding perceptions of current invasive species naming conventions and communication strategies\, and is applying these findings to a local park in New York City struggling with Phragmites. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCatherine de Rivera\, PhD\, Portland State UniversityDr. Catherine de Rivera is a professor of environmental science and management at Portland State University. An ecologist with more than 25 years of experience\, her research examines the spread\, impacts\, and management of introduced marine species\, including long-term work on invasive green crabs. She is particularly interested in how biological invasions intersect with climate change\, habitat connectivity\, and human activities. More recently\, her work has expanded to explore how language and naming conventions shape public perception and management of invasive species. Dr. de Rivera integrates applied research\, collaborative working groups\, and teaching to advance more effective and inclusive approaches to invasive species science and communication.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-rethinking-invasive-species-communication-updates-from-national-workshops-and-research/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/janweb.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260218T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260218T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20251211T131105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260210T164444Z
UID:136976-1771419600-1771423200@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Shaping Public Policy: Advocacy in Action
DESCRIPTION:Political processes can be convoluted and esoteric\, but remain key avenues for influence and the expression of public values. This webinar will illuminate the inner workings of Congress and federal agencies\, and the methods available to make your voice strategic and effective when pushing for change. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMara Rice\, Government Relations Manager\, NAISMAMara has been NAISMA’s Government Relations Manager since November 2024. She holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of California San Diego\, with concentrations in Environmental Policy and Inequality & Social Policy\, and BAs in English and anthropology from the University of Vermont. She brings a combination of experience in federal consulting\, local government\, and Congressional affairs. Her primary issue areas are energy and environment\, transportation and infrastructure\, and agriculture.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/shaping-public-policy-advocacy-in-action/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/webfeb.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260223T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260223T150000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260112T175333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T174127Z
UID:137181-1771851600-1771858800@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: USGS Invasive Species Science: Innovation for a Healthy Nation
DESCRIPTION:This webinar highlights how U.S. Geological Survey scientists are advancing innovative\, science based approaches to prevent\, detect\, and manage invasive species across diverse ecosystems. Presentations explore the role of invasion biology within a One Health framework\, emerging point of use environmental DNA tools for invasive species\, parasite\, and pathogen surveillance\, and the use of molecular techniques to understand wildlife and fish health. Speakers also examine applied research on contaminants and health effects in aquatic systems\, strategies to reduce wildfire risk from invasive vegetation in Hawaii\, and the development of acoustic deterrents to control invasive carp. Together\, these talks demonstrate how USGS research supports ecosystem resilience\, public health\, and natural resource management nationwide. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Camille Hopkins\, Wildlife Disease Specialist\, USGS Biological Threats and Invasive Species ProgramCamille is the Wildlife Disease Specialist for the Ecosystems Mission Area. At USGS headquarters\, Camille coordinates national science efforts related to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife disease. Camille will be presenting on the: Role of Invasion Biology in a One Health Approach. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Katy Klymus\, Research Biologist\, USGS Columbia Environmental Research CenterSince joining the USGS in 2016\, Katy’s research focus has been on using genetic and genomic methods to inform wildlife species management. Currently she is studying environmental DNA methods\, how they can be used to assess current levels of and changes in biodiversity\, and development of standards for eDNA analyses. Katy will be presenting on the: Current Development of Point-of-Use eDNA Tools for Invasive Species\, Parasite\, and Pathogen Surveillance. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Heather Walsh\, Research Fish Biologist\, USGS Eastern Ecological Sciences CenterDr. Walsh has focused on developing molecular techniques to better understand mechanisms associated with disease in wild fish. To serve this purpose\, she has developed her skills in histopathology\, in situ hybridization techniques\, and laser capture microdissection. The use of these techniques has helped to understand disease observed during fish health assessments conducted in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay (including the Susquehanna and Potomac River drainage). Dr. Walsh will be presenting on: Heavy Metals\, PFAS\, and Health Effects in Blue Catfish from the Patuxent River. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Michala Phillips\, Research Ecologist\, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystems Research CenterMichala is passionate about using basic science to create knowledge that can be used to support sustainable restoration and management needs of ecosystems. She integrates community\, ecosystem\, plant and microbial ecology in her research by using statistical modeling to combine data from a diversity of approaches (field\, greenhouse\, sensor networks\, soil chemistry and molecular biology techniques). Her aim is to build a better understanding of community assembly and ecosystem processes following disturbances to inform restoration and adaptive land management efforts. Michala will be presenting on: Bridging Science and Practice to Reduce Fire Risk from Invasive Vegetation in Hawaiʻi. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Marybeth Brey\, Research Fish Biologist\, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences CenterFor the past five years\, Dr. Brey has conducted research on the movement dynamics of invasive Asian carps\, both with Southern Illinois University and with the USGS in La Crosse\, Wisconsin. Dr. Brey joined the USGS in 2015 and is currently responsible for conducting research related to movement dynamics of invasive Asian carps in the Illinois River and conducting all studies related to the use of underwater sound to deter invasive fishes in collaboration with the USACE-ERDC\, USGS-CERC\, and University of Minnesota-Duluth. Dr. Brey will be presenting on: Developing Acoustic Deterrents for Invasive Carp Control.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-usgs-invasive-species-science-innovation-for-a-healthy-nation/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/eDNA-detection-1-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260224T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260224T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260107T134752Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T174152Z
UID:137106-1771938000-1771941600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Alberta Wild Boar Control Program: Challenges and Successes
DESCRIPTION:Wild boar are among the most destructive invasive mammals in North America\, posing serious risks to agriculture\, ecosystems\, and human health. In this webinar\, participants will gain an inside look at the Alberta Wild Boar Control Program and the coordinated efforts underway to eliminate this invasive species from the province. \n\n\n\nThe presentation will provide an overview of recent regulatory changes\, field operations\, and cross jurisdictional collaborations that support Alberta’s approach to wild boar control. Attendees will learn about the unique challenges associated with detecting and eradicating wild boar populations\, including their high reproductive capacity\, adaptability\, and ability to evade traditional management techniques. The speaker will also highlight key successes achieved through strategic planning\, innovation\, and partnership\, and discuss what comes next for the program. \n\n\n\nImportantly\, this session will connect wild boar management to broader public health protection. Wild boar can carry and spread diseases such as African swine fever\, brucellosis\, and other zoonotic pathogens that threaten livestock\, food systems\, and human health. By focusing on prevention\, rapid response\, and sustained control\, Alberta’s program demonstrates how invasive species management plays a critical role in defending community health and reducing the risk of disease spread across landscapes and borders. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHannah McKenzie\, Wild Boar Specialist\, Alberta Agriculture and IrrigationHannah graduated from the University of Alberta with an MSc in Mathematical and Statistical Biology and an MSc in Applied Mathematics. Prior to taking on her current role as Wild Boar Specialist\, Hannah worked with the Alberta Aquatic Invasive Species program along with her K9 partner Seuss. Hannah employs her quantitative skills to make evidence-informed policy and program decisions.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-alberta-wild-boar-control-program-challenges-and-successes/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/iStock-2204668507fs2-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260224T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T170000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20251117T124352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T174247Z
UID:136813-1771945200-1772125200@naisma.org
SUMMARY:USDA Cooperative Research Forum on Invasive Species
DESCRIPTION:Invasive pests cost the U.S. an estimated over $120 billion each year in damages to our environment\, agriculture\, and native species. The USDA Cooperative Research Forum on Invasive Species is a critical platform for scientists\, regulators and cooperators from state and federal government agencies and universities to meet\, share and discuss progresses and national strategies and tactics as well as progresses in managing invasive agriculture and forest pests (weeds\, pathogens\, and insects). If left unaddressed\, the invasive pests will continue devastating North American Agriculture\, forests\, and natural resources\, costing taxpayers billions\, making this research forum essential to advancing America’s priority to protect natural resources through effective management strategies that preserve vital tree populations\, benefit stakeholders—from foresters to the general public—through strengthened environmental resilience\, and support statutory authorities governing invasive species management\, environmental protection\, and forestry conservation. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Program\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJustification Letter\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPoster Sessions: Tuesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon\n\n\n\nPoster displays on forest invasive species are always welcome. Posters should fit within a 45″ x 45″ (115 cm x 115 cm) board. \n\n\n\nKeynote Speakers: Wednesday Morning \n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Jennifer Koch\, USDA Forest Service\, Northern Research StationThe Tree Species in Peril Breeding Program\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. Jiri Hulcr\, University of Florida\, Entomology And Nematology DepartmentThe role of AI in invasive species science and management\n\n\n\n\n\nSession Topics: Wednesday and Thursday \n\n\n\n\nInvasive Plants\n\n\n\nInvasive Pathogens of Trees\n\n\n\nBiological Control of Invasive Species\n\n\n\nArea-wide Management of Invasive Species\n\n\n\nResearch Reports\n\n\n\n\n\nABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM\n\n\n\n\nOral presentations are 20 minutes long\, including time for questions. You will be contacted if your presentation is accepted for the program. \n\n\n\n\nThe deadline for poster abstract submission is February 1\, 2026.\n\n\n\nThe deadline for oral presentation abstract submission is January 9\, 2026.\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHotel/conference venue\n\n\n\nGraduate Hotel in Annapolis\, MD (Graduate Annapolis | Hotel Near Naval Academy (graduatehotels.com). \n\n\n\nReservations will be accepted through the group cutoff date of Friday\, January 23\, 2025. Booking Link: https://book.passkey.com/e/51127593
URL:https://naisma.org/event/usda-cooperative-research-forum-on-invasive-species/
CATEGORIES:Conferences,In-Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/bio-usgs.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260225T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260225T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260107T135547Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T174231Z
UID:137111-1772024400-1772028000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Current Situation of the New World Screwworm in Mexico
DESCRIPTION:The New World screwworm remains one of the most serious transboundary threats to animal health\, livelihoods\, and public health in the Americas. In this webinar\, participants will learn about the current situation of the New World screwworm in Mexico and the actions being carried out to prevent its spread and protect both livestock and people. \n\n\n\nThis presentation will outline Mexico’s national control efforts\, including surveillance\, response strategies\, and coordination among veterinary\, agricultural\, and regulatory agencies. Attendees will hear about the results achieved to date and how early detection\, rapid intervention\, and sustained management are critical to limiting impacts. \n\n\n\nBeyond economic losses\, New World screwworm infestations pose direct risks to animal welfare and human health. The larvae can infest wounds in livestock\, wildlife\, pets\, and humans\, causing severe tissue damage and\, in untreated cases\, life threatening complications. By highlighting Mexico’s ongoing control actions\, this webinar underscores the importance of invasive species prevention and response as a frontline defense for public health\, food security\, and cross border biosecurity. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGabriel Ayala-Borunda\, Director General of Animal Health\, of the National Service for Health\, Safety and Agri-Food Quality (SENASICA) in MexicoGabriel Ayala-Borunda is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with a Master’s degree in Microbiology and serves as Director General of Animal Health at the National Service for Health\, Safety and Agri-Food Quality (SENASICA) in Mexico. He has extensive experience in animal health research; the evaluation and implementation of animal and plant health and safety programs; and the national coordination of federal programs addressing animal diseases such as bovine tuberculosis\, brucellosis\, rabies in bovines and other susceptible species\, and tick control. He has served as a consultant on projects for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations\, the Inter-American Development Bank\, and the Trade Agreement between Mexico and the European Union\, and has worked as a private advisor to dairy production units in northern Mexico.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-current-situation-of-the-new-world-screwworm-in-mexico/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/iStock-2188801605sw-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260226T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260226T150000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260220T133815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T134016Z
UID:137831-1772092800-1772118000@naisma.org
SUMMARY:15th Annual Columbia Gorge Invasive Species and Exotic Pest Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Don’t get lost in the weeds! Stay informed-attend the 15th Annual ISEP! \n\n\n\nBack by popular demand! The Columbia Gorge Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) is hosting its 15th Annual Columbia Gorge Invasive Species and Exotic Pest Workshop! This event is designed to provide information on invasive species management to land managers and the interested public. Learn about new pests and management strategies in Washington\, make connections and participate in our invasive species quiz! We are thrilled to once again host the event in person at Skamania County’s Hegewald Center! The event agenda is posted below. \n\n\n\n\nLEARN MORE\n\n\n\n\nPlease note: \n\n\n\n\nLunch will not be provided at the event\, so please bring a lunch or plan on eating at one of Stevenson’s local restaurants during the break.\n\n\n\nOn the day of the event\, please park behind the Hegewald Center near the Skamania County Fairgrounds; parking is not allowed in the front of the building.\n\n\n\nThere will be no refunds issued due to inclement weather. Attendees can receive refunds up to one week prior to the event date.\n\n\n\n\nRecertification Credits\n\n\n\nOregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) – (pending review) \n\n\n\nWashington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) – (pending review) \n\n\n\nDisclaimer: Any and all materials\, presentations\, or discussions pertaining to pesticide use or safety should be considered non-technical in nature and should not be construed as advice. Anyone using or planning to use any pesticides is responsible for their actions and should review and follow all label recommendations at all times.
URL:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/15th-annual-columbia-gorge-invasive-species-and-exotic-pest-workshop-tickets-1980033192580?aff=oddtdtcreator
CATEGORIES:NISAW
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260226T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260226T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20251219T133022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T125149Z
UID:137035-1772110800-1772114400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: The Surprising Intersection between Marine Invasive Species and Public Health
DESCRIPTION:From the introduction of deadly microbes into seafood to the clogging of cooling systems of a nuclear power plant\, marine invasive species are more than just costly pests that harm food webs. This talk will explore some of the surprising ways that marine invasive species impact our health\, and summarize a new white paper from the Invasive Species Advisory Committee\, advising federal agencies on “Opportunities to Improve Marine Biosecurity“. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristy Martin\, Program Manager & Information Officer\, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS)\, University of Hawaii at Manoa – Pacific Cooperative Studies UnitChristy Martin has worked on terrestrial and marine invasive species issues in Hawai‘i and the Pacific region for more than 25 years. She is the Program Manager & Information Officer for the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS\, pronounced “see-gaps”)\, a partnership of agencies and organizations working to protect Hawaii from the impacts of invasive species. In 2022\, Christy was appointed to Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC)\, which provides information and advice for consideration by the National Invasive Species Council\, and was reappointed in 2025 as ISAC Chair where she co-led the development of a white paper on marine biosecurity.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-the-surprising-intersection-of-marine-biosecurity-and-public-health/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/nisaw22.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260107T141808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T141949Z
UID:137116-1772197200-1772200800@naisma.org
SUMMARY:NISAW Webinar: Invasive Species Threaten American Food Security
DESCRIPTION:Invasive species pose a growing and often underrecognized threat to American food security\, public health\, and economic stability. This webinar will present key findings from a white paper developed by the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC)\, which outlines how invasive animals\, plants\, and pathogens directly threaten the food security\, prosperity\, health\, and safety of the American people. \n\n\n\nThe presentation will examine how invasive species damage and disrupt farmland\, livestock\, crops\, fisheries\, aquaculture\, and hunting\, fishing\, and subsistence food systems. These impacts ripple outward\, affecting jobs\, rural economies\, and the industries that support farming and ranching communities across U.S. states and territories. \n\n\n\nBy highlighting ISAC’s recommendations to federal partners\, this session will underscore the importance of strategic investment in prevention\, early detection\, and coordinated response. These actions are essential not only for protecting agricultural productivity\, but also for defending community health\, strengthening food systems\, and reducing long term risks associated with invasive species spread. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMeghan Brown\, Administrator Plant Health and Compliance\, Nevada Department of AgricultureMeghan moved to Elko\, Nevada after graduating university to work for the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association as their Executive Director. Meghan then worked for Congressman Mark Amodei as his Rural Representative\, with a focus on federal land issues and oversight of regulation that affected the rural fabric of the west. Meghan joined the Nevada Department of Agriculture in 2016 and is currently serving as the Administrator for the Division of Plant Health and Compliance. She serves the agricultural community in Nevada through engagement on issues ranging from invasive species\, native seed development\, and establishment of the regional Early Detection and Rapid Response Network.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/nisaw-webinar-invasive-species-threaten-american-food-security/
CATEGORIES:NISAW,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/iStock-2184817491fs.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260318T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260318T140000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20251216T140137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T125023Z
UID:137023-1773838800-1773842400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Invasive Grasses and Wildfire Risk in California: From Landscape Patterns to Restoration Solutions
DESCRIPTION:Invasive annual grasses are reshaping fire behavior across California\, increasing ignition frequency and altering recovery pathways in fire prone landscapes. This webinar explores how invasive plants contribute to wildfire risk and what land managers can do in response. Dr. Robert Fitch will provide a broad ecological perspective on grass driven fire cycles and share findings from revegetation trials designed to reduce fire risk while supporting native ecosystem recovery in the wildland urban interface. Participants will gain insight into the science behind invasive grass driven fire dynamics as well as practical strategies for post fire restoration and long term risk reduction. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert Fitch\, Postdoctoral Researcher\, University of California Santa BarbaraRobert Fitch is a vegetation and fire ecologist whose work focuses on developing science to support land management in California. His research integrates fire science and restoration ecology to better understand how wildfire risk can be reduced while enhancing native ecosystems in the wildland urban interface.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-invasive-grasses-and-wildfire-risk-in-california-from-landscape-patterns-to-restoration-solutions/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wildfire1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260415T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260415T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260211T142628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T143053Z
UID:137774-1776258000-1776263400@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Shifting the Momentum on Feral Swine: National Leadership and Lessons from Missouri's Success
DESCRIPTION:In this webinar\, Michael Marlow\, the Assistant Program Manager for the USDA’s National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSP) will provide an overview of the challenges associated with invasive wild pigs and describe how the NFSP is supporting efforts across the US to control wild pig populations. Megan Cross and Keith Carlisle\, researchers with the USDA\, will then present findings from a recent qualitative study that investigated how government agencies and organizations from the nongovernmental sector achieved notable progress in their efforts to eliminate wild pig populations in the state of Missouri. They spoke with agency leaders\, managers\, and field staff to understand the policies that were implemented and the strategies and management methods that were used to successfully eliminate wild pigs in many of the state’s watersheds. Key policies included prohibiting transport and release of wild pigs and restricting recreational wild pig hunting on public lands. Key management strategies included the use of presence/absence models\, systematic baiting\, and the innovative use of new technology (e.g.\, drones). In addition\, the agencies adopted the Incident Command System (ICS)\, forming a unified response team to improve accountability\, efficiency\, and interagency coordination. The goal in sharing this research is to highlight successful policies and strategies that could help natural resource managers in other states facing similar challenges. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMichael Marlow\, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesMichael Marlow is a Wildlife Biologist and serves as the Assistant Program Manager for the APHIS Wildlife Services’ National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSP). Michael began his Wildlife Services career in Oklahoma in 1996\, where he served as a Wildlife Specialist performing duties to resolve wildlife damage; as a Wildlife Biologist combating pecan depredation by crows; as a Wildlife Disease Biologist\, conducting surveillance on a wide variety of wildlife including coyotes\, beaver\, feral swine\, and a number of avian species. Prior to becoming a member of the NFSP he served as the Resource Management Specialist with WS’ Operational Support Staff\, where his duties focused primarily on addressing livestock industry needs relative to Integrated Wildlife Damage Management and livestock protection. Michael received an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology and a graduate degree in International Agriculture\, both from Oklahoma State University. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMegan Cross\, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesMegan Cross is a Social Scientist at the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services-National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins\, Colorado. Her research focuses on human-wildlife conflict\, with an emphasis on wild pig governance and large predator management\, including nonlethal livestock protection strategies. Megan brings expertise in both qualitative and quantitative social science methods to address complex wildlife management challenges\, and she holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and an MS in Natural Resource Science and Management from the University of Minnesota. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKeith Carlisle\, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesKeith Carlisle is a social scientist and Human Dimensions Unit Leader at the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services-National Wildlife Research Center in Fort Collins\, Colorado. Broadly\, his research focuses on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence and natural resources governance through an interdisciplinary lens that includes social psychology\, economics\, law\, and political science. Keith holds a J.D. from the New York University School of Law\, an M.E.M. from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University\, and a Ph.D. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-shifting-the-momentum-on-feral-swine-national-leadership-and-lessons-from-missouris-success/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://naisma.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/feralswine126.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260513T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260513T143000
DTSTAMP:20260406T055508
CREATED:20260320T183515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T183832Z
UID:138177-1778677200-1778682600@naisma.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Small Ants\, Big Impacts: Managing Invasive Ant Species in North America
DESCRIPTION:Invasive ants are spreading into new regions\, disrupting ecosystems\, impacting agriculture\, and creating challenges for land managers and communities. From aggressive supercolonies to painful stings\, these small invaders can have outsized ecological and economic consequences. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n\nJoin us for a webinar exploring the impacts and management of several high priority invasive ant species. Brooke Mahnken (Maui Invasive Species Committee) will share insights from Hawai‘i’s ongoing efforts to detect and manage little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) on Maui. Christina Boser (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will discuss the ecology\, spread\, and management of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile)\, drawing on her experience with eradication and control efforts in sensitive island ecosystems in California. Dr. Christopher Hayes (North Carolina State University) will highlight the emerging threat posed by Asian needle ants (Brachyponera chinensis)\, including their impacts on native ecosystems and human health. \n\n\n\nTogether\, these presentations will provide an overview of the biology\, impacts\, and management strategies associated with invasive ants\, along with practical lessons for early detection and response. Participants will gain a better understanding of how these species spread and what land managers can do to help reduce their impacts. \n\n\n\nImage Credit: Image used with permission\, Little Fire Ants by Melody Euaparadorn\, Hawaii Ant Lab \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrooke Mahnken\, Maui Invasive Species CommitteeBrooke Mahnken is a Data Analyst\, GIS Specialist\, and Invasive Ant Supervisor with the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC). Originally from Washington state\, he joined MISC in 2005 as part of the plant field crew and later became the program’s operations and GIS specialist. Since 2016\, he has coordinated MISC’s efforts to detect and manage little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) on Maui\, using spatial data and field operations to support early detection\, containment\, and response efforts. Brooke holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Washington. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristina Boser\, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceChristina Boser is a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and an ecologist with more than 15 years of experience in conservation\, invasive species management\, and collaborative research. Her work has focused extensively on invasive ants\, particularly Argentine ants (Linepithema humile)\, and their impacts on sensitive ecosystems in California. She has led and contributed to multi-agency partnerships\, including the California Islands Argentine Ant Eradication Fellowship\, advancing innovative strategies for detection\, control\, and long-term ecosystem recovery. Christina holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master’s degree in Ecology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChristopher Hayes\, PhD\, North Carolina State UniversityDr. Christopher Hayes is an entomologist at North Carolina State University whose research focuses on the ecology\, behavior\, and management of urban and structural pest insects. He leads the Hayes Structural Pest Research Lab\, where his work examines invasive pests such as Asian needle ants and Formosan termites\, as well as other medically important insects\, to better understand how they spread and how management strategies can reduce their impacts. Dr. Hayes earned his B.S. in Environmental Sciences from North Carolina State University\, an M.S. in Global Health from Duke University\, and a Ph.D. in Entomology from North Carolina State University.
URL:https://naisma.org/event/webinar-small-ants-big-impacts-managing-invasive-ant-species-in-north-america/
CATEGORIES:NAISMA Webinar,Webinars
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END:VCALENDAR