NECIS Brownbag Lunch During National Invasive Species Awareness Week
The National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species presents a brownbag lunch during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 26 – March 3rd, 2012):
New Studies and Policy Solutions to Invasive Species Threats
- Separating the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins
- NAPPRA, Q-37 and Invasive Plants
- Invasive Species + Climate Change = ?
When: Thursday, March 1, noon to 1:30
Where: Defenders of Wildlife, 1st floor conf. room,1130 17th Ave NW,Washington, between L and M streets (Farragut North Metro). Tel: 202.682.89400
Lunch: BYO (many shops and take-outs nearby, such as City Deli and Potbelly’s further south on 17th)
Why: Key new studies and regulations have come out in recent months onU.S. invasive species crises — and how to resolve them. Experienced policy advocates from NECIS and other speakers will present on those studies and discuss how to move national policy forward on key issues.
Moderator: Bentley Johnson, National Wildlife Federation
Each session will be 20 minutes – 15 for presentation and 5 for Q&A and discussion.
****Session 1. Separating the Connections between the Great Lakes and Mississippi Basins.
A significant priority for the Great Lakes region is preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species between the Great Lakes andMississippiRiver basins through possible separation between the two watersheds. This issue has attracted national attention in recent years due to concerns about Asian carp entering theGreat Lakesvia the Chicago Area Waterway System. Learn about new recommendations on how to separate the two mighty basins just released by the Great Lakes Commission and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
Speaker: Katherine Glassner-Shwayder is senior project manager at the Great Lakes Commission where she manages projects on aquatic invasive species and serves as coordinator for the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. Kathe also participates on the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, representing Great Lakes interests.
****Session 2: Preventing the Introduction of New Invasive Plants After years of review, USDA has recently strengthened their tools for screening plant imports. How can NAPPRA and Q-37 be implemented to best protect theU.S. from future invasive plant introductions? Those working across the country on invasive plant management can play a key role in making the new tools function effectively.
Speaker: Doug Johnson is executive director of the nonprofit California Invasive Plant Council. He serves on the executive committee for the National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils, was the first chair ofCalifornia’s state-appointed Invasive Species Advisory Committee, and is NAEPPC’s representative to NECIS.
****Session 3: Invasives + Climate Change=? What You Need to Know.
Invasive species and climate change are both daunting challenges in their own right. Those working on invasive species will need to know to how climate change could entirely change conventional understanding of invasive species.
Speaker: Doug Inkley from the National Wildlife Federation. He is NWF’s Senior Scientist, working on the issue of safeguarding wildlife from climate change. His work includes implementing on the ground climate smart conservation, and exploring the nexus between climate change and invasive species.
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The National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species (www.necis.net ) is an NGO network dedicated to strengthening our nation’s prevention and management policies.
Thanks to National Invasive Species Awareness Week for featuring this event. See www.nisaw.org for more information.