On March 14 the Kings Gap Environmental Education Center and Shippensburg University will co-sponsor the annual environmental issues conference at Shippensburg University with the theme “Invasive Species: Awareness to Action.”

As invasive species continue to threaten biological diversity throughout the environment, the most logical and effective strategies to curb their spread should include rapid response to invasive outbreaks, assisted by an aware and educated core of volunteers from the general public.

By raising concern and awareness among citizen advocates, the action and involvement necessary to eradicate and control these potentially destructive organisms can be significantly increased.

"Invasive Species: Awareness to Action" will address this issue through an array of sessions offering practical suggestions for model programs to combat invasives, as well as recruiting and training volunteers.

Dr. Les Mehrhoff, Director of the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) will give the opening address entitled ““Lessons Learned from IPANE: New England’s Multifaceted Early Detection Program.”

Started in 2001, the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England’s (IPANE) mission is to create a comprehensive web-accessible database of invasive and potentially invasive plants in New England that will be continually updated by a network of professionals and program-trained volunteers.

Dr. Mehrhoff will address various aspects of the collaboration, including successes, pitfalls, and what could have been done differently to ensure continual progress through all levels of this ambitious project.

Post-luncheon speaker will be Dr. Bernd Blossey, Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources, and Director of the Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants Program at Cornell University.

His presentation, “Do Interactions of Native and Introduced Species Facilitate Plant Invasions?” will explore evidence for the effects of native white-tailed deer and introduced species (plants, earthworms, slugs, and weevils) on rare and endangered plant species.

Concurrent sessions will cover regional and state programs and projects being implemented by various agencies and organizations, including: non-native earthworms; the impact of feral hogs; potential aquatic plant and animal threats; management and spread of exotic plant populations; the plant stewardship index; volunteer recruitment; and an update on the health of PA forests and parks.

There is a $20 fee for students and a $40 fee for all others.

For more information, contact Scott R. Hackenburg at 717-486.5031, or send e-mail to: shackenbur@state.pa.us

1/19/2007