Invasive Plant
Ecology
and
Management

August 19 - 20, 2008

North Carolina Arboretum
Asheville, NC

Sponsors:
NC Division of Forest Resources
NC State University
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
NC Cooperative Extension
NC Arboretum, Asheville, NC
Forestry and Environmental Outreach Program (FEOP)

About the Workshop

One of the top threats to plant and animal communities in North Carolina is the continued introduction and spread of invasive plants. Professionals tasked with conserving native communities must be knowledgeable of invasive plant identification and control. This workshop will provide attendees with training on how to identify invasive, exotic plants, knowledge about the ecology of the plants, and techniques to effectively and efficiently control the plants’ spread. The workshop will include classroom instruction, demonstrations, and field exercises with case studies and specimen identification. Ultimately, attendees should come away from the workshop with cost-effective approaches, and clear strategies for more successful management of invasive plants.

Special Emphasis on Your Problem Invaders
On pre-registration form, registrants write in the four specific invasive plant species that they would most like to see covered.  Short course planners will select diverse species from this list.  Parallels between these species and other common invasive plants will be established.  Potential species include oriental bittersweet, miscanthus, Japanese knotweed, hydrilla, air potato, Japanese stiltgrass, privet, kudzu, paulonia, garlic mustard, porcelain berry, English ivy, spirea, and others.

Who Should Attend?

This course will be valuable to Appalachian and foothills natural resource professionals, parks managers, horticulturists, arborists, landscape professionals, land trust staff, and others who deal with invasive plant management. (NCSU County Extension staff: Click here).

Continuing Education Credits

This workshop has been approved for the following continuing education credits:

NCDA&CS Pesticide course Approval
August 19 - 6.5 hours, categories: A G H I L N D X
August 20 - 6.5 hours, categories: A G H I L N D X

Society of American Foresters, Category 1-CF, 15.5 hours

International Society of Arborculture (awaiting notification)

Workshop Location

The workshop will be held at the North Carolina Arboretum located at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way in Asheville, NC. Lecture and demonstration areas located at the arboretum will be used on both days of the workshop. Field trips to sites near the arboretum are included in the agenda and transportation to these sites will be provided. A block of specially priced hotel rooms has been arranged for the nights of August 18 and 19 at the Comfort Suites, 890 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC, (828) 665-4000. The rate is $67.49 per person single- or double-occupancy. The hotel is located less than 2 miles from the NC Arboretum. The hotel reservations deadline is August 1, 2008.  Phone (828) 665-4000 and request the group name "Invasive Plant Workshop."

Workshop Invited Instructors

Parker Andes is the Director of Horticulture at the Biltmore Estate, a National Historic Landmark.  His group is responsible for the gardens, grounds and forest of the 8,000 acre working estate.

Greg Armel is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist for invasive weeds in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee. In addition to his role around invasive weeds, Greg is also responsible for developing research and extension programs in ornamental and vegetable crops.

Bo Burns is a BASF Professional Vegetation Management (ProVM) sales specialist based in Raleigh, NC. Bo has expertise in aquatic weed management strategies. (Invited, not confirmed)

Nancy Fraley is the Liaison for the National Park Service SE-Exotic Plant Management Team. The Team serves 18 park units in the southeast US by assisting with assessment, prioritization and implementation of invasive plant management strategies. Nancy is based on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC.

Katie Greenberg is Project Leader & Research Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Dr. Greenberg has studied the dispersal dynamics of invasive plants, especially those that produce fruits eaten by wildlife.

Steve Hoyle is Research Specialist in the Crop Science Department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He has expertise in aquatic, terrestrial and noxious weed management.

Rick Iverson is the State Weed Specialist in the Plant Protection Division of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Steve Manning is the Founder and President, Invasive Plant Control, Inc., a Nashville, TN company focusing on management of invasive species nationwide.

Chris Moorman is an Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at NC State University working with natural resource professionals, private landowners, and urban landscape designers to promote the management of native plant communities for wildlife.

Joe Neal is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticultural Science at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University.

Tom Ranney is Professor of Horticultural Science, NC State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Fletcher, NC. His research responsibilities include evaluation and improvement of nursery crops such as: Development of new nursery crops with greater adaptability, pest resistance, and non-invasive selections; Evaluation, selection, and improvement of plants with tolerance to environmental and biological stresses; and Enhancing production efficiency and quality of nursery crops.

Neil Rhodes is as Extension Specialist at University of Tennessee, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, where he earned his Ph.D. in Weed Science.

Rob Richardson is an Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist at NC State University. Rob is responsible for developing research and extension programs in the area of aquatic and non-cropland weed management.

Workshop Tentative Agenda (click here to go to final agenda and speaker presentations)