Fall is here, leaves are changing! In northern New England we’re approaching peak leaf-peeping season! It is beautiful! I hope everyone is able to get out an enjoy fall, and take part in some of the exciting upcoming conferences and workshops!
Conferences (in chronological order)
Bioengineering and Biostructural Stabilization of Landscapes
Join John Munro for this exciting seminar! This seminar is designed to bring a combination of new techniques, traditional concepts (European), and new ideas and materials together for the serious ER site planner. The seminar will focus on design concepts that use selected plants native to the local area, use a spectrum of techniques (light to heavy duty), fit the design to the local ecology and conditions, and include both manufactured materials as well as materials available locally. The limitations to bioengineering will be presented as well as the need for repair-oriented protocols for monitoring completed work. Check out this and other 2008 Eagle Hill Field Seminars at the Humboldt Institute!
Date: October 1–5, 2008
Contact: Humboldt Institute, P.O. Box 9, Steuben, ME (207) 546-2821, office@eaglehill.us
Integrated Ecological Restoration of Rivers and Streams Including Design of Native Vegetation for Water Quality, in Floodplains, Riparian Zones and Waterways
Join John Munro for this exciting seminar! This seminar/workshop is designed to dig deeply into the concepts of waterway restoration from the broader ecological context and in the mode of Ecological Restoration. The focus on vegetation and native plant community issues as they relate to waterway corridors, rather than on strictly mechanistic and engineering oriented channel design, makes this seminar unusual and better suited to well-defined restoration as a part of the ecological system. Participants in this five day course will learn the vital relationships between the watershed land cover, vegetation, stormwater and the waterway, and how to design plans for the ecological restoration of the waterway corridor. While some bioengineering concepts will be included in the seminar contents, they are not the sole focus of the session. Problem areas or restored waterways will be subject of field trips. Check out this and other 2008 Eagle Hill Field Seminars at the Humboldt Institute!
Date: October 5–11, 2008
Contact: Humboldt Institute, P.O. Box 9, Steuben, ME (207) 546-2821, office@eaglehill.us
Rain Gardens: Helping Nature and Having Fun
Rain gardens are a hands-on approach to mitigating the environmental damage posed by storm water run off. Easy to construct and fun for all ages, rain gardens beautify your property, enhance biodiversity, and capture copious amounts of storm water. Horticulturist Scott LaFleur will explain the construction process, identify some of the wonderful native plants that can be used, and discuss how rain gardens help address concerns about storm water pollution.
Scott LaFleur is Director of Horticulture for New England Wild Flower Society and Garden in the Woods, the Society's 45-acre public garden in Framingham, MA. A graduate of the University of Hew Hampshire program in Horticulture, Scott owned an operated a landscape design company, Garden Buds, before joining the Society in 2005. He brings to his work a deep and intimate knowledge of the beauty, hardiness, and versatility of native plants.
Date: Monday, October 6, 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Conway School of Landscape Design, 332 South Deerfield Road, Conway, MA
Host: Conway School of Landscape Design & New England Wildflower Society
Contact: TEL: 413-369-4044
Restore Americas Estuaries – 4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration (2008)
Estuaries and coasts are an important part of America's economy, history, and living culture. Restore America's Estuaries' 4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration is the only national conference focused on the goals and practices of coastal and estuarine habitat restoration. The five-day Conference will explore the state-of-the-art in all aspects and scales of restoration, and will be comprised of field sessions, plenary sessions, expert presentations, special evening events, workshops, a poster hall, and a Restoration Exposition.
Date: October 11–15, 2008
Location: RI Convention Center, Providence, RI
Third Passaic River Symposium
The Symposium features the "Lower Passaic River Restoration Project", as well as projects and issues in the upper River and tributary watersheds. The heads of three major agencies will be speaking, giving an update on Passaic Basin issues from their agencies’ perspectives: Alan J. Steinberg, Regional Administrator of USEPA, Aniello L. Tortora, the NY District Commander for the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner of the NJDEP. The second Passaic River Symposium at Montclair State in 2006 attracted over 300 participants, and we expect similar attendance again. (Held in conjunction with the 25th annual conference of the Geological Association of New Jersey on October 17 and 18).
Date: Thursday October 16, 2008
Location: Montclair State University Conference Center, Montclair, New Jersey
Organized by: Passaic River Institute of Montclair State University www.primsu.org
Contact: pri@montclair.edu; 973-655-5423
Website: www.csam.montclair.edu/pri/symposium2008
New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS) Fall 2008 Meeting
Newcomers to the NEERS have heard about the well attended 1996, 2000, and 2004 NEERS meetings on Block Island and now we are giving you the opportunity to experience it yourself! Long time NEERS members are looking forward to returning to the island 12 miles out from the Rhode Island mainland that the Nature Conservancy calls “one of the world’s last great places”. On October 16-18, we will discuss science, management, and education issues concerning estuarine and coastal ecosystems. You can do all this while gazing out over the Atlantic Ocean from the wraparound veranda of our meeting site, “The Spring House Hotel” – the same grand hotel where we met in 2000 and 2004. Just a 15 minute walk from the ferry landing, Block Island’s oldest (but renovated) hotel is situated on a 15-acre promontory overlooking Old Harbor, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Block Island foothills. Go to the website for information on the *special symposium*, *amazing field trips*, registration, ferry schedule, awards banquet, social night, accommodations, and much more!
Date: 16-18 October 2008
Location: Block Island, RI
Jointly hosted by: Graduate School of Oceanography URI, and US EPA, NHEERL, Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI
Backyard Biochar – The Dark Side of Soil Fertility
Learn to be Earth Aware & CARBON-NEGATIVE: · Ancient Amazon legacy to address our global ecological emergency · Simple, easy methods to make your own charcoal · How to use charcoal to create super soil fertility · Gasification technology to create smokeless combustion · Independence from fossil fuel & imported oil · Grow food with superior nutritional quality, flavor and storage life. New Revolutionary CARBON-NEGATIVE Strategy to reverse climate change & reduce fossil fuel dependence: · Produce Renewable Biofuels · Sequester Carbon in Soil · Reverse Global Warming · Create Sustainable Soil Fertility · Grow Nutrient Dense Food · Support Local Food & Fuel Economies. BYOB = Bring Your Own Barrels. $20 donation.
Date: Sunday, October 19, 2008, noon–4 PM
Location: Wrentham Development Center, Emerald Street, Wrentham, MA
Contact: Butch 508-400-5366 or Nancy 978-239-2469, nancyaskin@aceweb.com
Website: http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org, http://groups.google.com/group/terra-preta/
Landscape Design: Where Art and Nature Meet
Landscape design is a four-dimensional art (the fourth being time), with the living, changing landscape as its medium. Renowned landscape architect Darrel Morrison will discuss how naturally-evolving landscapes can be used to guide the creation of dynamic landscapes. Using examples of designs where there has been a conscious effort to merge art with nature, Darrel will show how a willingness to permit natural processes can enrich the spatial framework established by the designer.
Darrel Morrison is a Master Teacher at Conway and Adjunct Professor in Columbia University's Landscape Design program. He is a long-time advocate of integrating native plants, native plant communities, and natural processes into the designed-and-managed landscape. He was awarded the American Horticultural Society's National Landscape Design Award in 2006. In addition to teaching, Darrel is working on public and private landscape design projects across the United Sates.
Date: Monday, November 3, 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Conway School of Landscape Design, 332 South Deerfield Road, Conway, MA
Host: Conway School of Landscape Design & New England Wildflower Society
Contact: TEL: 413-369-4044
Understanding Plant Preferences: How Plants Adapt in the Wild and in our Gardens
Every plant–from a weed to a pampered garden celebrity–has clever strategies for adapting to its environment. Join Dr. Elizabeth Farnsworth to learn about the evolutionary roots of common adaptations. Taking a scientist's view, she will explore some interesting physiological and architectural traits, as well as the ecological affinities of familiar New England plant species. Understanding adaptive traits can help us determine why certain plants grow best in particular places and how they cope with stress.
Elizabeth Farnsworth is a biologist, author, scientific illustrator, and science consultant. She serves on the graduate faculty of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has also taught at Smith College, Hampshire College, Conway School of Landscape Design, and New England Wild Flower Society. Formerly the Senior Research Ecologist for the Society, she is co-author of the Peterson Field Guide to the Ferns, and is currently illustrating the forthcoming Flora of New England. Elizabeth has conducted scientific research on many ecosystems throughout the world and has published widely in scientific journals.
Date: Monday, December 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Conway School of Landscape Design, 332 South Deerfield Road, Conway, MA
Host: Conway School of Landscape Design & New England Wildflower Society
Contact: TEL: 413-369-4044
News and Information
Chief Executive Officer. Society for Ecological Restoration International. Responsible for implementing the organization’s goals and strategic plan and managing its day-to-day operations. Oversee full-time professional staff of three and an annual budget of $500,000-$700,000 US. Executive Director reports to the Society’s Board of Directors and is an ex officio member of the Board. A management agreement sets out terms and conditions of the position. For a complete set of duties and qualifications, see http://www.ser.org. Send application to SER-ED@biohabitats.com, attached as a pdf file, including max. 2-page cover letter, a resume and three references.
Attention all New England employers: The Society for Ecological Restoration International - New England Chapter (SER- NE) has created the Job Listing Marketplace. Job postings and requests to be on this e-mail announcement list should be sent to april.moulaert@state.vt.us. Note that this is a free service of SER-NE. SER-NE assumes no responsibility for accuracy of listings.
Submit future CALENDAR items to SER-NE Secretary, Sarah Watts Sarah.Watts@tetratech.com at least one month prior to the event. The preferred format for Calendar submissions includes the following items:
Conference Title; Brief description; Date; Time; Location; Sponsor(s); Contact: name & phone number; Website: if available
If you would like to be removed from the Conference Calendar mailing list, please email Sarah.Watts@tetratech.com.
