---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:49:04 -0400
From: Wiegand <wiegand@...>
Subject: SCA Internships, GPS, Botany, Fire/Resource Management

P.O. Box 550
Charlestown, NH 03603
Phone: 603-543-1700
Fax: 603-543-1828
Admissions@...
www.theSCA.org



Botany Invasives Species Team

Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID

Dates: 5/28/07-9/28/07

Position ID 4724



Do you want to help our environment and our national parks while
experiencing first-hand a new location in our country? SCA, in partnership
with the National Park Service's (NPS) Exotic Plant Management Team (EPMT)
program, is taking part in a nationwide effort to eradicate invasive plants
in our national parks. An "invasive species" is defined as a species that
is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose
introduction causes or is likely to cause economic, environmental, or human
health harm. After habitat loss, invasive species are considered the
greatest threat to global diversity. "Without understanding.and having
considerable resources going into the matter of controlling alien
invasives, the goals.of preserving biodiversity cannot be met" - Peter
Raven.


SCA is actively seeking people for a team of volunteers to help manage
invasive plants at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve which
is a part of the Northern Rockies EPMT Region. Interns will work in remote
and diverse terrain including lava beds and sagebrush steppe. The team will
manage numerous targeted species of invasive plants including: Rush
Skeletonweed, Leafy Spurge, Salt Cedar and three types of Knapweed:
Spotted, Russian and Diffuse. The team will focus on early detection and
rapid response through inventory, monitoring, GPS data collection as well
as mechanical and chemical removal methods. There is a possibility of
chainsaw use and safety training as part of the treatment method for Salt
Cedar. The team may also collect seeds and participate in various other
restoration activities. The team will consist of four interns and one SCA
field staff member (Project Leader). Learn more about this park at:
http://www.nps.gov/crmo.



Invasive vegetation removal through mechanical and chemical means; GPS
mapping of invasive vegetation sites; data collection on surveys,
treatments, and monitoring activities: 90%; community outreach and
educational activities: 10%. Interns may use hatchets, loppers, chainsaws,
other cutting tools and chemical sprayers.



Required: Ability to pass background check and training; willingness to use
mechanical and chemical invasive plant control methods; excellent
interpersonal skills; ability to carry up to 40 lbs. up to 5 miles over
steep terrain.



Desired: Coursework or field experience in botany, ecology, resource
management or environmental science; experience using GPS; experience
operating power equipment and 4-wheel drive vehicles; topographic map
reading skills; experience and interest in living and working outdoors;
desire to travel and a sense of adventure.



Learn more about invasive plant issues, the National Park Service approach
and the various EPMT regions at:
http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/invasivespecies.



Position involves long hours in the field in primitive conditions with
short and possibly long distance travel.  Start date is not flexible due to
travel and training while end date may be flexible. Transportation for all
service activities provided (and possibly limited personal use); $160/week
living allowance; SCA paid health insurance; travel grant up to $500;
AmeriCorps education award of $1250 may be available and is dependent on
eligibility; all project-related travel during internship term provided;
worker`s compensation coverage; SCA accident insurance coverage; work
uniform provided.



To view all available SCA Corps positions and learn more about these unique
programs, visit: http://www.thesca.org/conservation_corps/



Please apply online at www.thesca.org or send cover letter & resume to:
admissions@....





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----





Botany Invasives Species Team

Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ-NY

Dates: 5/28/07-8/31/07

Position ID 4746



Do you want to help our environment and our national parks while
experiencing first-hand a new location in our country? SCA, in partnership
with the National Park Service's Gateway National Recreation Area, is
taking part in an effort to eradicate invasive plants in our national
parks. An "invasive species" is defined as a species that is non-native (or
alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes
or is likely to cause economic, environmental, or human health harm. After
habitat loss, invasive species are considered the greatest threat to global
diversity. "Without understanding.and having considerable resources going
into the matter of controlling alien invasives, the goals.of preserving
biodiversity cannot be met" - Peter Raven.

SCA is actively seeking people for a team of volunteers to help manage
invasive plants in Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey / New York.
Interns will work in coastal dune habitats to control several target
species: Russian Olive, Autumn Olive and Asian sand sedge. Control methods
will include chemical, mechanical and manual methods, including chainsaws,
herbicide backpack sprayers and various other hand tools. The team will be
based out of Ft. Hancock located near the end of Gateway's 5 mile long
peninsula. The team will consist of four interns and one SCA field staff
member (Project Leader). Gateway NRA offers plenty of coastal beach access,
hiking and biking trails and is within close distance to New York City.
Learn more about America's first urban national park at:
http://www.nps.gov/gate.



Invasive vegetation removal through mechanical and chemical means; GPS
mapping of invasive vegetation sites; data collection on surveys,
treatments, and monitoring activities: 90%; community outreach and
educational activities: 10%. Interns may use hatchets, loppers, chainsaws,
other cutting tools and chemical sprayers.



Required: Ability to pass background check and training; willingness to use
mechanical and chemical invasive plant control methods; excellent
interpersonal skills; ability to carry up to 40 lbs. up to 5 miles over
steep terrain.



Desired: Coursework or field experience in botany, ecology, resource
management or environmental science; experience using GPS; experience
operating power equipment and 4-wheel drive vehicles; topographic map
reading skills; experience and interest in living and working outdoors;
desire to travel and a sense of adventure.



Transportation for all service activities provided (and possibly limited
personal use); $100/week living allowance; travel grant up to $500;
AmeriCorps education award of $1250 may be available and is dependent on
eligibility; all project-related travel during internship term provided;
worker`s compensation coverage; SCA accident insurance coverage; work
uniform provided.

To view all available SCA Corps positions and learn more about these unique
programs, visit: http://www.thesca.org/conservation_corps/



Please apply online at www.thesca.org or send cover letter & resume to:
admissions@....






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----





Botany Invasives Species Team

National Capital and Mid Atlantic Region, Virginia & DC

Position ID 4467

Dates: 5/28/07-10/19/07



Do you want to help our environment and our national parks while
experiencing first-hand a new location in our country? SCA, in partnership
with the National Park Service's (NPS) Exotic Plant Management Team (EPMT)
program, is taking part in a nationwide effort to eradicate invasive plants
in our national parks. An "invasive species" is defined as a species that
is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose
introduction causes or is likely to cause economic, environmental, or human
health harm. After habitat loss, invasive species are considered the
greatest threat to global diversity. "Without understanding.and having
considerable resources going into the matter of controlling alien
invasives, the goals.of preserving biodiversity cannot be met" - Peter
Raven.


SCA is actively seeking people for a team of volunteers to help manage
invasive plants in the National Capital and Mid-Atlantic EPMT Regions in
Virginia and Washington DC. Interns will work in a diverse range of
habitats that include urban and suburban parks as well as cultural and
historical parks. The team will manage numerous targeted species of
invasive plants potentially including: Wisteria, Japanese Stiltgrass,
Multiflora Rose as well as various vines, shrubs, honeysuckles, etc. and
utilize mechanical and chemical control techniques. The team will consist
of four interns and one SCA field staff member (Project Leader). Project
time may be spent in the following parks: George Washington Birthplace
National Monument, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Parks,
Manassas National Battlefield Park, Richmond National Battlefield Park and
Prince William Forest Park. An amazing diversity of life in addition to
historical and political significance exists in these parks. Learn more at:
http://www.nps.gov.



Invasive vegetation removal through mechanical and chemical means; GPS
mapping of invasive vegetation sites; data collection on surveys,
treatments, and monitoring activities: 90%; community outreach and
educational activities: 10%. Interns may use hatchets, loppers, chainsaws,
other cutting tools and chemical sprayers.



Required: Ability to pass background check and training; willingness to use
mechanical and chemical invasive plant control methods; excellent
interpersonal skills; ability to carry up to 40 lbs. up to 5 miles over
steep terrain.



Desired: Coursework or field experience in botany, ecology, resource
management or environmental science; experience using GPS; experience
operating power equipment and 4-wheel drive vehicles; topographic map
reading skills; experience and interest in living and working outdoors;
desire to travel and a sense of adventure.



Learn more about invasive plant issues, the National Park Service approach
and the various EPMT regions at:
http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/invasivespecies.

Transportation for all service activities provided (and possibly limited
personal use); $160/week living allowance; SCA paid health insurance;
travel grant up to $500; AmeriCorps education award may be available and is
dependent on eligibility; all project-related travel during internship term
provided; worker`s compensation coverage; SCA accident insurance coverage;
work uniform provided. Position involves long hours in the field in
primitive conditions with short and possibly long distance travel.  Start
date is not flexible due to travel and training while end date may be
flexible.   To view all available SCA Corps positions and learn more about
these unique programs, visit: http://www.thesca.org/conservation_corps/



Please apply online at www.thesca.org or send cover letter & resume to:
admissions@....







GPS Firemon Team South

Great Plains Agency, SD

Dates: 5/29/07-11/27/07

Position ID 4300



Primary partners are the Bureau of Indian Affairs and local Tribes. This
position also gives the team an additional opportunity to learn the
heritage and culture of America's first peoples. You will work in teams of
four with one Project Leader staff. Site specific projects are developed
with guidance from the SCA project staff leader and agency fire fuels
coordinator and tailored to meet local tribal needs.



Travel by truck and foot hiking up to 6 miles/day to locations throughout
the tribal lands to collect/record vegetation and landscape data, 80%;
manage data and build fuel data layers for reservation GIS maps, 15%;
present project information and results in organized formats for
reservations and National Interagency Fire Center 5%.



Required: Knowledge of and skill with GPS hardware such as Trimble Recon;
experience collecting field data and performing data entry; experience with
plant identification, botany or forestry; desire to work with people of
various backgrounds; self-motivation and willingness to take initiative;
ability to work independently and as part of a team; experience living and
working outdoors in all weather conditions (including camping), and ability
to hike over rough terrain. Must be 21 years old or older with ability to
pass driver's background check and training.



Desired: College coursework in GPS, botany, forestry, fire/resource
management, geography, fire ecology, environmental studies, or related
field; presentation skills; experience collecting field data and performing
data entry; ability to navigate using topographic maps; GIS familiarity
including the ability to use software such as ESRI ArcView, ArcPad, and
ArcGIS 8.3; knowledge of basic computer programs and fire behavior.



Must be 21 years old or older with ability to pass driver's background
check and training. 9 teams will be located across the United States.
transportation for all service activities provided (and possibly limited
personal use); $160/week living allowance; SCA paid health insurance;
travel grant up to $500; AmeriCorps education award is available based on
eligibility; all project-related travel during internship term provided;
worker`s compensation coverage; SCA accident insurance coverage; work
uniform provided. Position involves long hours in the field in primitive
conditions with short and possibly long distance travel.  To view all
available SCA Corps positions and learn more about these unique programs,
visit: http://www.thesca.org/conservation_corps/



Please apply online at www.thesca.org or send cover letter & resume to:
admissions@....







GPS Firemon Team North

Great Plains Agency, ND

Dates: 5/29/07-11/27/07

Position ID 4302



Primary partners are the Bureau of Indian Affairs and local Tribes. This
position also gives the team an additional opportunity to learn the
heritage and culture of America's first peoples. You will work in teams of
four with one Project Leader staff. Site specific projects are developed
with guidance from the SCA project staff leader and agency fire fuels
coordinator and tailored to meet local tribal needs.


Travel by truck and foot hiking up to 6 miles/day to locations throughout
the tribal lands to collect/record vegetation and landscape data, 80%;
manage data and build fuel data layers for reservation GIS maps, 15%;
present project information and results in organized formats for
reservations and National Interagency Fire Center 5%.



Required: Knowledge of and skill with GPS hardware such as Trimble Recon;
experience collecting field data and performing data entry; experience with
plant identification, botany or forestry; desire to work with people of
various backgrounds; self-motivation and willingness to take initiative;
ability to work independently and as part of a team; experience living and
working outdoors in all weather conditions (including camping), and ability
to hike over rough terrain. Must be 21 years old or older with ability to
pass driver`s background check and training.



Desired: College coursework in GPS, botany, forestry, fire/resource
management, geography, fire ecology, environmental studies, or related
field; presentation skills; experience collecting field data and performing
data entry; ability to navigate using topographic maps; GIS familiarity
including the ability to use software such as ESRI ArcView, ArcPad, and
ArcGIS 8.3; knowledge of basic computer programs and fire behavior.



For more information on the Fire Monitoring program go to: http://fire.org
Must be 21 years old or older with ability to pass driver's background
check and training. 9 teams will be located across the United States.
transportation for all service activities provided (and possibly limited
personal use); $160/week living allowance; SCA paid health insurance;
travel grant up to $500; AmeriCorps education award is available based on
eligibility; all project-related travel during internship term provided;
worker`s compensation coverage; SCA accident insurance coverage; work
uniform provided. Position involves long hours in the field in primitive
conditions with short and possibly long distance travel.  To view all
available SCA Corps positions and learn more about these unique programs,
visit: http://www.thesca.org/conservation_corps/



Please apply online at www.thesca.org or send cover letter & resume to:
admissions@....





GPS Firemon Team

Eastern Cherokee Tribe

Silva, NC

5/25/07-11/21/07

Position ID 4288



Work with the SCA's Firemon corps in a team of four gathering forest
inventory and fire hazard risk assessment data for the Eastern Cherokee
Tribe using GPS and GIS to record and display fuel data.



Travel by truck and foot hiking up to 6 miles/day to locations throughout
the tribal lands to collect/record vegetation and landscape data, 80%;
manage data and build fuel data layers for reservation GIS maps, 15%;
present project information and results in organized formats for
reservations and National Interagency Fire Center 5%. This position also
gives the team an additional opportunity to learn the heritage and culture
of America's first peoples. You will work in teams of four with one Project
Leader staff. Site specific projects are developed with guidance from the
SCA project staff leader and agency fire fuels coordinator and tailored to
meet local tribal needs.



Required: Knowledge of and skill with GPS hardware such as Trimble Recon;
experience collecting field data and performing data entry; experience with
plant identification, botany or forestry; desire to work with people of
various backgrounds; self-motivation and willingness to take initiative;
ability to work independently and as part of a team; experience living and
working outdoors in all weather conditions (including camping), and ability
to hike over rough terrain. Must be 21 years old or older with ability to
pass driver`s background check and training.



Desired: College coursework in GPS, botany, forestry, fire/resource
management, geography, fire ecology, environmental studies, or related
field; presentation skills; experience collecting field data and performing
data entry; ability to navigate using topographic maps; GIS familiarity
including the ability to use software such as ESRI ArcView, ArcPad, and
ArcGIS 8.3; knowledge of basic computer programs and fire behavior.



For more information on the Fire Monitoring program go to: http://fire.org
9 teams will be located across the United States. Transportation for all
service activities provided (and possibly limited personal use); $160/week
living allowance; SCA paid health insurance; travel grant up to $500;
AmeriCorps education award is available based on eligibility; all
project-related travel during internship term provided; worker`s
compensation coverage; SCA accident insurance coverage; work uniform
provided. Position involves long hours in the field in primitive conditions
with short and possibly long distance travel.  To view all available SCA
Corps positions and learn more about these unique programs, visit:
http://www.thesca.org/conservation_corps/




Please apply online at www.thesca.org or send cover letter & resume to:
admissions@....



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689 River Road/P.O. Box 550
Charlestown, NH 03603
P: 603.543.1700
F: 603.543.1828
www.theSCA.org
Celebrating 50 Years of Students Conserving America





_______________________________________________
PCA's Alien Plant Working Group mailing list
APWG@...
http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/apwg_lists.plantconserva
tion.org


Disclaimer
Any requests, advice or opinions posted to this list reflect ONLY the
opinion of the individual posting the message.

Lisa L. Smith
Consulting Ecologist
286 Stoneylonesome Rd.
Stahlstown, PA 15687
wildflower@...
-----Original Message-----
From: Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council [mailto:L-PISC@...] On
Behalf Of Bravo, Melissa
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 12:34 PM
To: L-PISC@...
Subject: Invasive Species Outreach Coordinator Description for CA Invasive
Species Council

   FYI,

Melissa


The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link
attachments:

Shortcut to: http://www.cal-ipc.org/OutreachCoordinator.pdf


Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent
sending or receiving certain types of file attachments.  Check your
e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled.
  <<OutreachCoordinator.url>>

Please see the attached announcement for the MA-EPPC invasive plant
conference this August.

Lisa L. Smith
Consulting Ecologist
286 Stoneylonesome Rd.
Stahlstown, PA 15687
wildflower@...

-----Original Message-----
From: Jan McFarlan [mailto:jlm@...]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 8:49 AM
To: wildflower@...
Subject: Publicity for Invasive Plant Conference

Dear Lisa,

Can you send notice of the conference to the various EPPC listserves
and the Natural Areas Association listserve?  Attached is an
announcement for the conference.

Many thanks,

Jan



Jan McFarlan, Education Coordinator
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
100 Northwestern Ave.
Phila., PA 19118
Ph: 215-247-5777x156
Fax: 215-247-7862
email: jlm@...


www.morrisarboretum.org

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pabiodiv@...
[mailto:owner-pabiodiv@...] On Behalf Of John Grehan
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 2:19 PM
To: PABIODIV@...
Subject: PABIODIV: Environmental scientist position


Buffalo Museum of Science

Employment Opportunity

Position title:  Environmental Scientist
Department:    Science and Collections
Supervisor:     Director of Science and Collections
Status:            Full time
Salary:            $35,000 to $45,000

Tifft Nature Preserve represents the Buffalo Museum of Science's
living collection of plants and animals in a unique urban ecology
comprising a recovering Brownfield with an intact wetland. These
ecological resources are used to expand public understanding and
appreciation of how plants and animals sustain the environment and
assist in the recovery of human impacted landscapes. The preserve is
used for passive recreation, educational programming, and research.
To maintain overall environmental integrity of the preserve, all
recreational, research, and educational activities must be integrated
within a scientifically informed management plan. The Environmental
Scientist will be responsible for ensuring the environmental and
management integrity of the preserve as a platform for environmental
research and programming as well as develop research and research
partners.

Specific Responsibilities:

*         Assist the Director of Science and Collections in
developing a preserve management plan

*         Carry out preserve management, habitat protection and
restoration, and other activities

*         Conduct and lead environmental management or ecological
research activities

*         Develop research or management partnerships with
universities, colleges and institutions to lead and coordinate an
environmental research program

*         Develop research and preserve management grants

*         Develop public and volunteer participation in research

*         Support and contribute to Center for Science Learning
educational programming

Priorities:

*         Tifft preserve management

*         Grant development to support research and management
programs (such as habitat restoration)

*         Research program to support education about ecological
processes affecting environmental management

*         Support and collaborate with educational programming


Qualifications:

*         At least Masters in environmental Science, ecology, or
related field. PhD preferred.


Applicant qualities:

*         Self-motivator, ability to work independently

*         Excellent communication skills - oral, written, group and
individual of all ages

*         Work well in a collaborative, team environment.

*         Committed to institutional success


Skills and Experience

*         Field Ecology or environmental management

*         Interest or background in aquatic ecology or landscape
ecology desirable.

*         Experience with invasive species management desirable.

*         Able to work with ecology of both plants and animals.

*         GIS experience helpful.


Please send application letter and cv or resume by email to:

Dr. John Grehan
Director of Science and Collections
jgrehan@...
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14211
Phone: (716) 8965200

***************************
Dr. John R. Grehan
Director of Science and Collections
Buffalo Museum of Science 1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14211-1193
email: jgrehan@...
Phone: (716) 896-5200 ext 372

Panbiogeography

http://www.sciencebuff.org/biogeography_and_evolutionary_biology.php

Ghost moth research

http://www.sciencebuff.org/systematics_and_evolution_of_hepialdiae.php

Human evolution and the great apes

http://www.sciencebuff.org/human_origin_and_the_great_apes.php
*****

The Pennsylvania Biodiversity Listserve is intended to promote
discussion of biodiversity issues in the state.  It is moderated by
the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership (PBP) following guidelines
posted at http://www.pabiodiversity.org/listserve.html.  The opinions
expressed in messages are those of the authors and NOT the PBP.  To
unsubscribe, send the message UNSUBSCRIBE PABIODIV to
majordomo@....

*****

Lisa L. Smith
Consulting Ecologist
286 Stoneylonesome Rd.
Stahlstown, PA 15687
wildflower@...

-----Original Message-----
From: Cleary, Ruark [mailto:Ruark.Cleary@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:47 AM
To: Brian Bowen (NAA-EPPC); Charlie Nilon (NAA); Dave Borneman (NAA); Deb
Kraus (NAA); Jil Swearingen (NAA-NPS Alien); Joan Seevers (NAA-BLM); Jody
Shimp (NAA); Karen Shelly (NAA); Karen Smith (NAA); Kim Herman (NAA); Kim
Herman (NAA2); Lisa Smith (NAA); Pene Speaks (NAA); Randy Heidorn (NAA);
Randy Nyboer (NAA); Renee Kivikko (NAA-LTA); Ron Hiebert (NAA); Steve Shelly
(USFS-NAA); Steven Link (NAJ ed.); Tim Nigh (NAA); Tom Meyer (NAA); Vickie
Larson (NAA)
Cc: Nancy Wogen (BLM)
Subject: FW: Vacancy - BLM Deputy State Director, Resources - GS-340-14


-----Original Message-----
From: Peggy_Riek@... [mailto:Peggy_Riek@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 10:31 AM
Subject: Vacancy - Deputy State Director, Resources - GS-340-14

Hi,

This email is to announce the vacancy for BLM-Eastern States Deputy State
Director, Division of Resources.  Please forward as necessary.

Thanks.
Peggy

Peggy Riek
BLM, Eastern States, External Affairs Office
(703) 440-1716
----- Forwarded by Peggy Riek/ESO/ES/BLM/DOI on 08/08/2007 10:01 AM -----
----- Forwarded by Michele Willingham/ESO/ES/BLM/DOI on 08/08/2007 10:00 AM
Deputy State Director, Resources - GS-0340-14
Announcement No: ES Merit-2007-0033
Opens: 8/08/07    Closes: 8/22/07
Location: Division of Resources, Springfield, Virginia
Promotion Potential:  GS-14
Moving expenses authorized
Certain incentives may be authorized
Open to any current or former Federal Employee with competitive civil
service status, reinstatement, or special hiring authority eligibility.

This announcement is open concurrently with ES-DEU-2007-0054.  You must
apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under
both recruitment methods.

Deputy State Director, Resources - GS-0340-14
Announcement No: ES-DEU-2007-0054
Opens: 8/08/07    Closes: 8/22/07
Location: Division of Resources, Springfield, Virginia
Promotion Potential:  GS-14
No moving expenses authorized
Open to all qualified US Citizens

To apply please go to the website address:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9blm.asp

**********************************************
Ian Glander
HR Specialist
Bureau of Land Management (ES-95113)
(703) 440-1539 - voice
(703) 440-1797 - fax
**********************************************

Hello All,

Announcing the North American Ecotourism Conference - Madison, Wisconsin - Sept. 26-28

See www.ecotourismconference.org/

Many of you from the midwest and elsewhere may be interested in this conference (to be held at the Monona Terrace, where NAA held its annual conference in 2003).  The International Ecotourism Society is the sponsor/organizer and they are looking for more locally-based attendees, as well as speakers.  One session of particular interest to NAA members, and for which they have space for presenters, is the one entitled "Enhancing Biodiversity." 

 Please contact Christina at ccavaliere@... if you are interested in giving a talk.  In any case, please consider attending. 

 
Abi Rome

This message was originally sent to the list serve for activists
that enjoy and protect butterflies and other insects. I am sending
it to assist in responding to questions about how climate change
relates to management and restoration of natural areas. Technical
details I believe are important for more realistic benefits to our
natural areas. For example recent fires in California were caused
by heavy rain during the growing season followed by severe drought
but the primary cause was that 2/3 of the victims moved to fire
prone areas that we in the conservation movement had recommended
be set aside as parks (with some success) to avoid such a disaster.
Cheers.

Marc

-----Original Message-----
From: VA-MD-DE-Bugs AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:VA-MD-DE-Bugs AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Harry Pavulaan
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:57 AM
To: VA-MD-DE-Bugs AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [VA-MD-DE-Bugs] RE: Natural Areas and Climate Change?

All:

regarding:


Climate Action at the Park

Help Swann Park survive global warming and climate change.


Not to engage in debate, but I seriously do not think that invasive plant
species are at any advantage over our native species simply due to "global
warming", if that's what's being implied. Most of our non-native invasives
are of Eurasian origin and are well adapted to cold-temperate climates such
as our own. Let's give these plants the credit they deserve. They are
themselves hardy competitors and are better adapted here because factors
which keep them under control in their own native lands are not present
here. Perhaps the invasives are just as susceptible to climate change.

The New York City metro area, where I grew up, was ground zero for invasive
species since I was a kid. As I remember, winters were quite severe in the
60's, summers nowhere nearly as hot as down here in D.C., yet Japanese
Honeysuckles and English Ivy covered every bit of forest edge from ground to
canopy (ah, the sweet smell of summer). Though Ailanthus filled every
vacant space, I never did find Ailanthus Silk Moths. Fields were thick with
Cresses, Mustards, Dandelions, English Plantain and other species of
Eurasian origin and I doubt many of the plants that I trampled in search of
bugs and snakes were of native origin. We never heard of global warming
back then. We need to control invasives because our native ecosystem just
can't do the job by itself. Just a different view.

Harry



Hi Harry,


I agree with all of your comments. To educate the new enormous force
of young folks that are working on climate change about nature, I have
joined the core of naturalists that are treating the global warming
movement as a stepping stone to the larger conservation movement for
these newcomers. As bad as the non-native vines are they are even
worse with global warming. Also, invasive species tend to be
generalists, as opposed to specialists and climate change creates
disturbed habitats generalists are more adapted to.

But I agree, climate change is only a small part of the cause of
invasive species problems.

Following are some general thoughts I have.

Should we just work on removing the causes of global warming and
climate change or should we recognize that we may not be able to stop
all global warming and thus should also ameliorate the effects.

For example, providing wildlife migration corridors is one way to
adapt to climate change. Species of plant and animal life live in a
shifting mosaic pattern and thus need migration corridors (a minimum
of 1600 feet wide) to adapt to storms, diseases, hydrological changes
and the changes in climate even with out global warming. Without the
ability to move through what are now cities, highways and farms about
half the 1,000 species that typically reside in a natural area of 100
acres become extirpated over a period of about 5 decades. The Nature
Conservancy made this issue of forest fragmentation one of their top
issues a few decades ago before global warming. The state of
Maryland's DNR Green Print Program is based on this issue and has
identified high priority corridors and hubs to preserve with Program
Open Space. Climate change caused by Man has increased this problem
significantly.

Likewise the great increase in wildfires occurred several decades ago
because of forest fire suppression which resulted in crown fires
rather than normal fires. Good management is to have prescribed
burning in longleaf pine wiregrass ecosystems in the southeast and
Ponderosa Pine, Gamble Oak ecosystems in the West where fire is a
natural component of the ecosystem. The non-native invasive cheat
grass, which benefits from fire by growing much more rapidly, causes
much, much more frequent and larger fires. The four governors
finally get it this year and are asking congress to appropriate funds
to remove cheat grass. We have been telling them this for ten years
just as we told New Orleans that the preservation of the wetlands to
control hurricanes was necessary to prevent a storm such as Katrina
from destroying the city. I really do wish people would listen to our
scientists. Global warming has made the existing serious problems
significantly worse.

A complex native ecosystem of at least 16 species of trees, shrubs and
ground cover works many times better than trees alone in controlling
global warming and storm water run off. At Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, for
example I funded (as the natural resources manager of the Army
National Guard) such a restoration project for erosion control because
of the studies that showed the contributions of the individual species
to the total root structure at different depths in the ground.

Global warming has significantly exacerbated the problem of invasive
species, as well as water pollution, but is, of course, not the
primary cause. Again, shall we adapt to global warming and climate
change by reversing the effects or should we only try to reduce it
with education and legislation? Should global warming and climate
change be an avenue to work on a variety of environmental problems?

Unfortunately I remember in the early 1970's shortly after Earth Day,
Acid Rain was the subject of about half of the media coverage of
environment in newspapers, radio and television for about 2 years.
Then a widely viewed program (something like 60 minutes) debunked acid
rain and said it was all a fake. After that the media coverage of acid
rain stopped abruptly and environmental coverage in general dropped
greatly. Actually acid rain is a very, very, serious air pollution and
water pollution problem along the Blue Ridge and in up state New York
where there is little calcium buffering capacity. It is an important
problem elsewhere. The program was wrong and media coverage of acid
rain went from one extreme to the other extreme. It should not have
received half the media attention. One tenth, or even one fifth, would
have been more appropriate.

So let us cover climate change as a very important issues in it's own
right but also utilize it as an introduction to the other related
environmental issues. Cheers.

Marc Imlay PhD
Conservation biologist, Anacostia Watershed Society


Climate Action at the Park

Help Swann Park survive global warming and climate change. Saturday,
November 10, 1-4 pm. Rescue native plants from non-native invasive plants,
remove trash, participate in water quality sampling and hear introductory
talks about climate action.
On Saturday, November 10, we will walk through Swann Park in Charles
County, look for and remove invasive plants, identify and appreciate the
native plants and animals we have rescued, bag trash we come across, and
participate in water quality sampling on the wetlands meadow tributary to
the Mattawoman Creek in Swann Park.

Participating organizations with speakers include Maryland Native Plant
Society www.mdflora.org , Sierra Club, http://maryland.sierraclub.org and
Chesapeake Climate Action Network www.chesapeakeclimate.org .

Starting in 1999 volunteers have removed almost all of the English Ivy,
Japanese Stilt Grass, Chinese Privett, Swedish Ivy, Asiatic Bittersweet,
Japanese Knotweed, Japanese Honeysuckle and other plants from Europe and
Asia to rescue native violets, ferns, orchids, asters, St. Andrew’s Cross
and other native American plants that contribute to global biological
diversity. These native plants provide ecosystem services that reduce CO2
emissions and storm water and nitrogen runoff to the Chesapeake Bay.
Invasive species, especially vines, generally can survive the new climate
better.

Directions: Meet at the Ruth B. Swann Park-Potomac Branch Library parking
lot, 20 miles south of Washington Beltway (I-495) on Rt. 210 (Indian Head
Hwy), about a mile and a half south from the traffic light on Rt. 2l0 in
Bryans Road .Give yourself 30 to 40 minutes from the Beltway. Casual
clothing, long sleeves and pants, sturdy comfortable walking boots/shoes,
gloves are encouraged for these events.

Contact: Marc Imlay 301-283-0808.

PhD Conservation biologist, Anacostia Watershed Society
(301-699-6204, 301-283-0808 301-442-5657 cell)


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To NAA Colleagues: Please consider and share this position announcement in
environmental geoscience/geography:

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Drew University, a highly selective liberal arts college
located 30 miles outside New York City, seeks applications for a new
tenure-track position of Associate or Assistant Professor to help build a new
interdisciplinary major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. Candidates
should have expertise in GIS and in environmental geology, physical geography,
or a closely related field, and the area of specialization must relate to
environmental issues. This faculty member would teach GIS, environmental
geography or geology, and (with others) gateway and core courses for the new
major. In addition, s/he would help others integrate GIS into their courses and
research.  A productive program of research with undergraduates is expected. 
Requires Ph.D. and a record of teaching  excellence and research productivity. 
Submit CV, statement of teaching philosophy and description of research, three
reference letters, and evidence of teaching excellence to: Dr. Sara Webb,
Biology Dept, Drew University, Madison NJ 07940, swebb@.... Applications
received by Feb. 1, 2008, will receive highest consideration. To enrich
education through diversity, Drew University is an AA/EOE employer.

***********************************************
Sara Webb
Professor of Biology and
Director of Environmental Studies
Drew University
Madison NJ 07940
swebb@...
973-408-3550
***********************************************

I will be out of the office starting  02/09/2008 and will not return until
02/19/2008.

I will be away the week of February 11th, returing after Presidents day on
Tuesday February 19th.