To kick off New York’s Invasive Species Awareness Week, APIPP staff will lead an educational walk at Boquet River Nature Preserve that will focus on how to identify and manage some of the most common invasive plants including honeysuckle, knotweed, and barberry. The walk is a great training for professionals and the public alike to learn the best management practices for controlling some of the invasive plants that negatively impact our local environment.

Kiana French, curator of the Ausable Conservation Nursery with Ausable Freshwater Center, will demonstrate the Center’s newly launched Community Seed Scouting initiative and provide an orientation for folks interested in assisting with tracking phenology and locating potential seed-collection sites for propagation materials at the Ausable Conservation Nursery, a native plant nursery in Lake Placid. Tracking seed provenance and ensuring diverse, ecologically aligned seed genotypes for restoration is important for protecting local biodiversity in the Adirondacks.

Agenda

• 10 a.m.: Overview and introductions
• 10:15 a.m.: Invasive species hike
  • General invasive species identification
  • Reporting invasive species using iMapInvasives mobile app (download and set up an account before you arrive)
• Noon: Lunch
• 12:45 p.m.: Specific monitoring protocols (download the Survey123 app before you come)
  • Community seed sourcing of native plant monitoring from Ausable Freshwater Center
  • APIPP Forest Pest monitoring survey 123 form
  • MAMA and Hemlock Plots
• 1:15 p.m.: Examples of mechanical control and emerging species search techniques
• 2 p.m.: Wrap up and end of the training

Note: If the weather is bad, a training will be held indoors at The Nature Conservancy, located at 8 Nature Way, Keene Valley, NY 12943.

Attendees are strongly encouraged to register for the walk so they can receive updates.