This two day course, taught by David Polster, MSc, RPBio, will be based on a system of vegetation management known as an ecological approach to vegetation management where vegetation management systems are designed to work with natural successional processes.
Classroom Session (Day 1)
Introduction
Goals and expected outcomes for course
Need for invasive species management
Focus mainly on plants, but animals can cause major problems
Organizations involved in invasive species management
Identification and Ecology of Invasive Species
Common invasive species of British Columbia
Problem species of the Coastal area
Ecology of invasive species
Woody species
Herbaceous species
Graminoides
Strategies for Dealing with Invasive Species
Identification of the problem – mapping and sampling
Assessment of treatment area
Mapping scales and base maps
Sampling procedures and timing
Documenting changes over time
Decision Support Tool for Invasive Species
Adaptive management approach
Incorporation of ecological values in treatment design
Ecological Approach to Vegetation Management
Use of ecological characteristics to manage invasive species
Strengths and weaknesses – vulnerabilities
Common techniques for dealing with invasive species
Successional distancing
Soil seed banks and regeneration from roots and rhizomes
Tools for dealing with invasive species
Hand tools
Power tools
Herbicides
Definitions and types of herbicides
Herbicide use and regulations
Ecological issues with herbicide use
Management of crews
Volunteers, contractors and employees
Crew safety and specific training
Monitoring
Types of Monitoring
Implementation
Effectiveness
Validation
Field Session (Day 2)
Assessment of site to be treated (mapping and planning)
Identification of approaches for treating invasive species
Select species to treat
Work from greatest concentration to least concentration
Only tackle what you can deal with on a continuous basis
Plan for dealing with plant wastes
Establishing monitoring program
Testing treatment techniques
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