Volunteer Activities

Terrestrial Inventory and Control

Overview

Early detection of invasive plant infestations is essential for successful management and control. The Terrestrial Invasive Species Project organizes volunteers to assist with inventory and control efforts. Citizen volunteers and organizations may inventory an area of their choice and attend a summer training session to sharpen their identification skills of native and invasive terrestrial plants and gain instruction on how to conduct an invasive plant inventory.

In addition to inventory efforts, the Terrestrial Invasive Species Project also coordinates field days to control priority terrestrial invasive plant sites throughout the Park. Volunteers and resident groups may sign-up to assist these work parties to help eradicate, contain, or reduce invasive plant populations.

Methods

The sooner invasive populations are detected by inventory measures (early detection), the better chance there is of controlling them (rapid response).

Inventory: 
Inventory efforts concentrate along roadways (likely areas to find invaders) and backcountry areas (sensitive areas). A volunteer inventory involves attending a summer training session in plant identification and inventory methods.

Volunteers then choose a geographic area either to drive designated roadways or to hike along trails to look for terrestrial invasive plants. Volunteers are asked to conduct surveys at least once between June and August and send in their data sheet noting their field observations including species name, geographic location, physical setting,  and abundance. Equally important is noting if invasives were not observed.

Control: 
The Terrestrial Invasive Species Coordinator organizes and supervises work parties to cut, dig, pull or herbicide terrestrial invasive plants. Specific dates, times, and locations are announced in late spring / early summer.  Daily invasive plant control projects are on-going throughout the field season.  Please join us during one of our volunteer field days scheduled during 2009!

To help or to find out additional information, contact Steven Flint, Terrestrial Coordinator, at the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy at 518-576-2082 x 120.

Benefits to Participants

Information gathered by volunteers, the Terrestrial Coordinator, and participating staff is recorded in a terrestrial invasive plant database and used to prepare maps of the current distribution of invasive plants. Inventory information directly focuses the needs for priority site management. Such “up-to-date” documentation of inventory and control efforts serves to better inform the public and their representatives about terrestrial invasive plant infestations in the Adirondack Park. Interested in volunteering with the Aquatic Invasive Species Project too? Click here to learn more about our aquatic surveys!

Additional information about inventory and control activities is available from
Steven Flint, Terrestrial Project Coordinator,
c/o Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
Po Box 65
Keene Valley , NY 12943
518-576-2082 ext 120