Invasive Plant and Forest Management Field Day

 Sponsored by the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP) Forest Campaign, the Field Day is free and open to the public and will be held Saturday, September 14^th, 2013 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Trail of Tears State Forest at the White Barn, 3240 State Forest Road, Jonesboro, IL 62952. 

  Participants will learn about invasive plant identification, control techniques, forest management practices, and landowner assistance programs.  This program would be beneficial to landowners, hunters, or anyone interested in learning more about conservation and management of forests in Southern Illinois.  Karla Gage, River to River CWMA Coordinator, will present Invasive Plant Control Techniques; John Burk, NWTF Regional Biologist for Missouri, will discuss Forest Management For Wildlife; Tracy Boutelle Fidler, IWAP Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) Coordinator, will cover land owner aspects of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Forest Campaign; and Ryan Pankau, NRCS Conservation Forester, will offer information on Land Owner Assistance Programs.  A free lunch, compliments of NWTF, provided by The Great Boars of Fire, will be available to all participants who register by September 9^th.  

 Following lunch, speakers and participants will take a field tour to view and discuss management techniques and invasive plant identification on-site at Trail of Tears State Forest.  To register for the Field Day, please email or call Karla Gage at rtrcwma@gmail.com or 618-998-5920.

Field Day Agenda
10:00-10:15 Welcome and introductions
10:15-10:45 Invasive Plant Control Techniques – Karla Gage, River to River CWMA 
10:45-11:15 Forest Management for Wildlife – John Burk, National Wild Turkey Federation
11:15-11:45 Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Forest Campaign – Tracy Boutelle Fidler, Wildlife Action Plan COA
11:45-12:15 Landowner Assistance Programs – Ryan Pankau, Natural Resources Conservation Service
12:15-1:00 Lunch – The Great Boars of Fire
1:00-3:00 Field tour to view and discuss management techniques and invasive plant identification

The River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area is a partnership between:

Illinois Department of Natural Resources ∙ Illinois Department of Agriculture ∙ Illinois Department of Transportation ∙ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service ∙ USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ∙ Shawnee National Forest ∙ Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge ∙ Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge ∙ Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge ∙ The Nature Conservancy ∙ Shawnee Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc. ∙ University of Illinois Cooperative Extension ∙ Southern Illinois University at Carbondale