It is on your calendar? Are your "celebration" plans in place? For what you may ask.
Next week, February 26 - March 2, 2018 is the National Invasive Species Awareness Week.
You may be wondering who celebrates such a week. We encourage each and every person to spread the word about invasive species. Invasive species are problematic economically and ecologically. While I realize that we don't want to celebrate the invasive species themselves, but rather we want to raise awareness about each one and the detrimental impacts that we are facing or could face as a result of these pests. Raising awareness about invasive pests is important, especially in our field! Will you join us in getting the word out?
Next week, there will be BYGL alerts on several different invasive species. Some maybe "old news" to you, but remember it could be new to someone you know. Others maybe be a pest that you have not heard of and should learn more about. No matter the pest, the reason for the BYGL alerts on invasive species next week is to help raise awareness get the word out. Alerts are encouraged to be shared via email, social media, and in our regular conversations. So watch out family, friends, co-workers and clientele, it is going to be a week filled with outreach and education on invasive species in the buckeye state and you can be part of it!
Earlier today, I tuned into the first Emerald Ash Borer University (EABU) webinar of 2018. Leigh Greenwood with the Nature Conservancy updated viewers on "Resources for Jumpstarting Outreach on Invasive Species." This webinar was recorded and will soon be available to view on the Emerald Ash Borer website at http://www.emeraldashborer.info/eabu.php Additionally, you can check out the upcoming EABU calendar and plan now to participate in a live session. This is a great way to continue to learn and stay updated on EAB, other forest pests and related topics.
Future EABU Sessions, Presenters, Dates and Times:
| Recognizing and Reporting Exotic Forest Insects Cliff Sadof, Purdue University, Entomologist |
Thursday, March 1, 2018 @ 11 a.m. EDT |
Join Webinar |
| Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and Biocontrol Efforts Mark Whitmore, Cornell University, Forest Entomologist |
Thursday, March 8, 2018 @ 11 a.m. EDT |
Join Webinar |
| Determining Impacts on Wildlife From Emerald Ash Borer Infestations of Black Ash Forests Alexis Grinde, PhD, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Wildlife Biologist |
Thursday, March 15, 2018 @ 11 a.m. EDT |
Join Webinar |
| Wood Utilization Post-Emerald Ash Borer: An Update Jessica Simons, SE Michigan Resource Conservation and Development |
Thursday, March 22, 2018 @ 11 a.m. EDT |
Join Webinar |
Today, Leigh Greenwood shared information about the Don't Move Firewood Website and several of her go to favorites. If you have not checked out the Don't Move Firewood website, or maybe it has been awhile, click here to jump to the page: https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/
So be ready for what will be a invasive species kind of week. Readers will also learn how to engage in the monitoring of invasives species here in Ohio using your phone and the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) App.
GLEDN relies on volunteers out in the field to populate maps on where these invasive species are located. Current GLEND users are Master Gardener Volunteers, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists, green industry professionals, Extension professionals, service and consulting foresters, park employees, outdoor enthusiasts and more!
