[APWG] CONFERENCE: Invasive Species: Awareness to Action (Shippensburg, PA)

[Olivia Kwong]

What: Invasive Species Conference
Park: Kings Gap Env. Ed., 717-486-5031
Email: Kings Gap Env. Ed. kingsgapsp at state.pa.us
Contact: Gina Padilla, 717-486-3799
Time: March 17, 2007 at 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Description:
"Invasive Species: Awareness to Action" The Pennsylvania Bureau of State 
Parks - Kings Gap Environmental Education Center and Shippensburg 
University will co-sponsor the eighteenth annual environmental issues 
conference on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at Shippensburg University. 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 
awareness and concern among citizen advocates, the action and involvement 
necessary to eradicate or 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. These topics, all 
related to invasive species, include: 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. The 
early registration fee of $40 will include lunch, breaks, and registration 
materials. Full-time students may register for $20. For registration 
information, contact Kings Gap at (717)486-3799 or e-mail 
kingsgapsp at state.pa.us.

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Kings Gap Environmental Education Center and Shippensburg University will
co-sponsor an environmental issues conference entitled "Invasive Species:
Awareness to Action" on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at Shippensburg
University.  The conference committee invites your organization to display
information related to the topic of the conference in the exhibit area.

All non-profit organizations will be provided exhibit space free of 
charge. One staff person per exhibit will be admitted to the sessions and 
provided lunch for $20.00.  Any additional individuals who staff the 
exhibit must register and pay the $40 fee.

All other organizations will be charged $40 for exhibit space.  This price
includes the opportunity for one individual to staff the exhibit, attend
conference sessions, and eat lunch.  Any additional staff must register
individually for the conference at the $40 fee.

All exhibitors must complete the enclosed form and return it, along with
registration materials (contact phone number below) and fees no later than 
February 28, 2007 to the address below.  Responses will only be accepted 
through the US postal service.

    2007 Conference Exhibits
    Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
    500 Kings Gap Road
    Carlisle, PA 17015

If you have any questions, please call the Center at (717) 486-3799.
We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to contact  such 
a varied audience.