By: Mike Van Clef, Ph.D. (FoHVOS Strike Team)

Mike will discuss why the populations of both deer and invasive plants have exploded over the last 50 years, including why different natural areas are more susceptible than others and how stewardship strategies are determined to reduce impacts on native plants and animals.

By: Brian Kubin and Mike Bellaus (Duke Farms/ FoHVOS Strike Team)

Brian and Mike will discuss how hunters can maximize harvests through strategic approaches on public and private lands. They will provide information on what exactly management hunting is and its benefits to our ecosystem along with ways you can get involved on your local lands as a management hunter.

By: Betty Ann Kelly (Union County)

Betty Ann Kelly of Union County will be sharing some advice on how you can start your own local Strike Teams. She will provide information about working on county and municipal lands to communications and planning with officials in order to select control strategies. Lastly, the roots of a Strike Team, she will provide insight on how you can recruit volunteers to join your team.

By: Thom Almendinger (Duke Farms)

Duke Farms is an ecological oasis, of over 2700 acres, in the piedmont of NJ embedded within a densely populated landscape. High-quality obligate grassland bird habitat, totaling nearly 560 acres, harbors numerous rare species. The size and condition of grassland habitat is Duke Farms’ greatest ecological asset. Managing these early successional habitats comes with unique challenges. After years of research and benchmarking with farms across the Northeast and Midwest, to find a solution other than delay mowing, Duke Farms endeavored to test rotational grazing as an alternative. Thom Almendinger will discuss this journey and detail some of the early stages of this new program.

By: Jillian Stark (Mercer County Parks Commission)

Jillian Stark, Senior Land Steward for Mercer County Parks Commission will discuss effective and efficient control methods for the ten most common invasive plants encountered at home and natural areas.

By: Tama Matsuoka Wong (Meadows + More)

By: Deb Ellis (Native Plant Society of NJ)

When we garden, we can support biodiversity through the plants we chose! In this workshop, you will learn how to bring beautiful butterflies to your backyard by using native bushes and flowers. This workshop is perfect for beginner or experienced gardeners who want to support pollinators.

By: Rosa Yoo (New Jersey Forest Service)

This presentation will provide an update on the status of several current forest health threats, including emerald ash borer, bacterial leaf scorch, beech leaf disease, and oak wilt.

By: Chris Doyle (SOLitude Lake Management)