Concerned about invasive plants? Consider becoming a Chapter Lead for NNMN to document and report invasive species on the NN.***
What is a Chapter Lead:
Trained chapter leaders will become points of contact and asked to lead EDDMapS training and to encourage fellow chapter members to report invasive plant sightings. Leaders can get creative in initiating activities for collecting invasive plant data, including reaching out to other groups outside of VMN.
Lead Training:
On-line, Two-part training on July 8 and 22***
Why:
Invasive plant species are a major threat to the health of our native plant communities and reduce the biodiversity in our beautiful state. Yet, the data needed to document the spread of invasive plants, to determine the harm they cause, and to support policy- and management decision-making is insufficiently available. Virginia’s Natural Heritage Program, Blue Ridge PRISM, EDDMapS, and Virginia Master Naturalists are teaming up in an initiative to address these significant information gaps.
What is EDDMapS:
EDDMapS is a program for reporting, mapping and managing data on invasive species using a website and a suite of applications. It is heavily used across the country by community scientists, conservation organizations, and natural lands managers for determining where to direct resources for the control of plants that threaten the health of our ecosystems.
With members across the state, VMN is in a unique position to document the spread of escaped non-native plants in the many corners of the Commonwealth. To be as effective as possible, we are hoping that one or more members of each VMN chapter will volunteer to be the local lead(s) for this initiative.
To contribute to this effort, Master Naturalists must be proficient in the use of EDDMapS. EDDMapS is not difficult to use, but some training is required to maximize the usefulness of submitted data.
On July 8 and July 22, 10-noon, we will have an on-line two-part train-the-trainers training in which participants will learn how to use EDDMapS as well as how to guide others through the use of the application. Attendees will then become points-of-contact for their respective chapters.
To Register:
If you would like to attend this training, please email your contact information and the name of your VMN chapter to Susan McLaughlin Gitlin (Alleghany Highlands Chapter), who will coordinate the July trainings. Also, should you have any questions, please direct those questions to Susan at smcg611@gmail.com or 540-460-7777.
Big Reminder:
*** VMN volunteers should make sure that their chapter has approved the activities of this project before beginning volunteer work after the trainings. You can let your Projects Chair know that Michele Prysby will create a template for this activity within Better Impact that they can adopt, if this doesn't fit under an already existing activity in your chapter. The template will be added to Better Impact in mid-July.