Dear Partners,

NY’s Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) kicks off today and runs through Sunday, June 11. This is a perfect opportunity to take action on invasive species, and there is so much you can do! Read more below about our upcoming “Photography for Nature Lovers” webinar on Friday as well as an educational field trip in Lake George the same day. You can also tap into APIPP’s trainings and technical resources, or sign up for one of our upcoming volunteer programs.

By working together, we can reduce the risks invasive species pose to the communities, lands, and waters of the Adirondacks. So, whether it is uploading an observation into iMapInvasives with your new photography skills, learning about how to reduce the spread of invasive plants, or becoming a volunteer—this is a great time to commit to doing something!

ISAW Webinar: Photography for Nature Lovers (Zoom)—June 9, 10:30am

Would you like to learn how to take better photos? This free virtual program will cover how to photograph plants for identification purposes and for reporting the presence of invasive species to iMapInvasives, NY’s invasive species database. The workshop will provide an overview of some common invasive species and cover photography basics, including how to use manual camera settings and proper image composition techniques. Register here.

ISAW Field Trip: Invasive Species Identification Guided Walk (Lake George) —June 9, 10:00am

During this free one-hour walk along the Warren County Bike Trail in Lake George, APIPP’s Terrestrial Invasive Species Coordinator Becca Bernacki will teach participants how to identify common invasive plants. The walk is co-sponsored by the Lake George Association and the Lake George Land Conservancy. Register here.

ISAW Events Around NY

To find out more about ISAW activities around the state, check out this link.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers play a vital role in helping monitor and manage invasive species on land and in the water across the Adirondack Park. APIPP relies on community scientists to help protect the natural resources and economic stability of the region for future generations. Join our Lake Protectors and Forest Pest Hunter volunteer programs this summer. Check out our events page to learn more about upcoming trainings for these programs.

Invasive Species Field Guide

The new Field Guide to Terrestrial Invasive Species of the Adirondacks is a handy booklet that will help you identify 28 terrestrial invasive plant and animal species in the field. You can download the digital field guide from APIPP’s website as well as order up to 10 print copies free of charge. The Field Guide to Terrestrial Invasive Species of the Adirondacks provides a terrestrial invasive species counterpart to the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s new Aquatic Invasive Species Guide.

Manage Invasive Plants in Your Own Backyard

Homeowners are sometimes surprised to learn that invasive herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees can often be found growing in their own backyards. To learn more about how to identify and manage backyard invasives, check out this recording of our May 24 webinar. Or, download best management practices for the Adirondacks here.

If you are planting your garden or adding to your landscaping, please also be sure to plant native trees and shrubs and avoid planting invasive species. See this handy “Plant Wise” guide.

There is so much we can accomplish together. I hope you will join us by taking action during ISAW 2023!

Regards,

Tammara