Illinois Invasive Species Symposiom presentations available online

Recordings of the presentations from the 2015 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium are now available online on the symposium webpage –

http://www.invasive.org/illinois/2015InvasiveSpeciesSymposium.html

The all-day symposium featured 11 presentations on a wide range of invasive species topics and included the Illinois Invasive Species Awards Ceremony. (See the full agenda at http://www.invasive.org/illinois/2015_IllinoisInvasiveSpeciesSymposiumagenda.pdf)

Over 100 people attended the symposium in person and over 50 signed onto watch the live webcast.  A direct link to the recordings - http://www.invasive.org/illinois/presentations.html.

Garlic Mustard: Stewardship Network May Webcast

Join us for our next FREE monthly Stewardship Network Webcast! The webcast will be on Wednesday, May 14th, and will focus on the "Garlic Mustard"

Presentation by: Jeff Evans, USDA Agricultural Research Service; and Lisa Brush, The Stewardship Network

Date: Wednesday, May 14th, 2014
Time: 12 noon to 1pm Eastern
Place: Your Computer!

Click here to view webcast!
(Link will become live day of webcast)

With The Stewardship Network's annual Garlic Mustard Challenge underway, it's a great time to discuss this herbaceous invasive! Garlic mustard takes over our woodlands and out competes native wildflowers and tree seedlings, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. It's been creeping its way across the continent, and can now be found in many parts of the U.S. and Canada. Join us for an overview of the biology of garlic mustard, emphasizing critical stages for management. Multiple management methods (mechanical, manual, and chemical), will be discussed, including when and where it is appropriate to conduct each method. We will also discuss the positive impact of multi-year management, and organizing and engaging volunteers to help in our efforts. Many hands make light work, and many trained eyes help us get a bigger picture of where invasive plants are in our communities.

Join Jeff Evans, USDA Agricultural Research Service; and Lisa Brush, The Stewardship Network as they present on this important stewardship topic.
____________________________________________

Jeff Evans - Jeff is a population ecologist with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service who specializes in invasive species. His research focus is the development of population models that can guide management strategies for weedy and invasive species. Jeff earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University studying the demography of the invasive weed garlic mustard. He move to New Hampshire in 2009 as a postdoctoral researcher and teacher at Dartmouth College, and now studies the management of herbicide resistant weeds in agricultural systems. He continues to work on garlic mustard biology whenever possible.

Lisa Brush - Executive Director, The Stewardship Network. Lisa has worked in the environmental field in Michigan for the last fifteen years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Stewardship Network and has been involved with the Network since its inception more than 10 years ago. She has a wealth of experience helping non-scientific people understand scientific issues. For over nine years, as she has built and coordinated The Stewardship Network, she has emphasized effective and meaningful stakeholder involvement in developing and implementing all aspects of this program. She has a M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a B.A. (Science in Society) from Wesleyan University.

Free Webcast from The Stewardship Network: "Feral Swine - an Unwelcome Visitor"

Join us for our next FREE monthly Stewardship Network Webcast! The webcast will be on Wednesday, February 12th, and will focus on "Feral Swine - an Unwelcome Visitor."

Presentation by: Tim Wilson, USDA Wildlife Services; and Lisa Brush, The Stewardship Network
Date: Wednesday, February 12th, 2014
Time: 12 noon to 1pm Eastern
Place: Your Computer!
Click here to view webcast!
(Link will become live day of webcast)

Feral swine can cause considerable damage to property and pose a disease threat to domestic animals. The rooting and wallowing activities of feral swine can cause serious erosion to riparian areas and wetlands, and damage to agricultural crops. These destructive animals have been known to tear through livestock and game fences, consume animal feed, and prey upon small livestock. Feral swine are also known to prey upon wildlife, especially ground nesting birds, small mammals, and deer fawns. Feral swine are also susceptible to a variety of diseases (such as pseudorabies, swine brucellosis, and classical swine fever) that are transmittable to domestic animals. 

USDA Wildlife Services has been working cooperatively with the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources, and the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy to locate feral swine. Once feral swine are located, technical assistance and traps are made available to landowners who want to trap these animals. Blood samples are then taken from trapped swine for disease surveillance. Efforts are being made to educate the public that the perils of feral swine far outweigh any potential positive recreational benefits. 

Join Tim Wilson, USDA Wildlife Services, and Lisa Brush, The Stewardship Network as they present on this important stewardship topic.
____________________________________________
Tim Wilson - Wildlife Biologist with USDA Wildlife Services since 2001. Tim is involved with not only feral swine issues, but also wildlife mitigation on airports, control of double-crested cormorants, nuisance Canada geese, and other conflicts between wildlife and humans. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from Mississippi State University.

Lisa Brush - Executive Director, The Stewardship Network. Lisa has worked in the environmental field in Michigan for the last fifteen years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Stewardship Network and has been involved with the Network since its inception more than 10 years ago. She has a wealth of experience helping non-scientific people understand scientific issues. For over nine years, as she has built and coordinated The Stewardship Network, she has emphasized effective and meaningful stakeholder involvement in developing and implementing all aspects of this program. She has a M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a B.A. (Science in Society) from Wesleyan University.

Stewardship Network Webcast: Fall Preparations for Spring Invasives

FREE Stewardship Network Webcast Wednesday, August 14th, "Fall Preparations for Spring Invasives Control Work" 

Presentation by: Chris Evans, Coordinator of the Invasives Species Campaign of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan; and Lisa Brush, The Stewardship Network
Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Time: 12 noon to 1pm Eastern
Place: Your Computer!

Click here to view webcast!
(Link will become live day of webcast)
Stewardship, including invasive species management, is a year-round endeavor. Each season brings different challenges and new opportunities. Knowing the correct timing for conducting invasive species work can greatly increase efficiency and reduce costs. When you think of invasive species work for fall, you typically think of treating woody invasive plants. However, there are a lot of other tasks that need to be completed in preparation for spring work. In this webcast, we’ll cover some of the basic tasks that managers and stewards can do in the fall to prepare for next year’s invasive species work, including scouting, mapping, firebreak installation, equipment maintenance, and planning.
____________________________________________
Chris Evans- Chris is the Coordinator of the Invasive Species Campaign of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.  This position involves working with partners across the state to implement the actions set forth in the Wildlife Action Plan to address invasive species in Illinois.  Chris has a Master's Degree in Forest Biology from Iowa State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Biology from Murray State University.  Before working with the Wildlife Action Plan, Chris coordinated the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area in southern Illinois and served as an Invasive Species and Natural Resource Specialist for the University of Georgia's Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.

Lisa Brush - Executive Director, The Stewardship Network. Lisa has worked in the environmental field in Michigan for the last fifteen years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Stewardship Network and has been involved with the Network since its inception more than 10 years ago. She has a wealth of experience helping non-scientific people understand scientific issues. For over nine years, as she has built and coordinated The Stewardship Network, she has emphasized effective and meaningful stakeholder involvement in developing and implementing all aspects of this program. She has a M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a B.A. (Science in Society) from Wesleyan University.
_____________________________________________
Seeking Funding Support for Webcast Archives
We are currently seeking funding to make our complete archive of webcasts available to view for free. Each archived webcast requires a $10 fee to view (although that one time fee gives you unlimited access to that particular archive). These fees cover the cost of maintaining the recordings. If your organization is insterested in sponsoring our archives, or if you'd like to learn more about the benefits of sponsoring our archives, please contact Erin Mittendorf at emittendorf@stewardshipnetwork.org. Making these archives available for free will help provide valuable information to land and water stewards across the country. Thank you for your consideration! 

Click here to view the webcast archive!


Enjoy the free webcasts? Show your support by becoming a Stewardship Network Member today! Do so by making an online donation at www.StewardshipNetwork.org/JoinNow.

To learn more about other Stewardship Network events visit us online at www.stewardshipnetwork.org/events.