Become an Invasive Strike Force Surveyor!
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Help find the next problem invaders that threaten our region's natural areas...
Become an Invasives Strike Force (ISF) citizen science volunteer!
SIGN UP TODAY!
We are excited to announce and unroll our newly refined ISF survey program for 2022! Many of you have helped contribute to our standard, intermediate, and blockbuster surveys that were the hallmark of our ISF survey program for the past 10 years. This robust decadal data set has served as the foundation necessary to map and manage both the common and some key emerging invasive species along with our region’s trail system.
The next iteration of our citizen science survey programming will now exclusively target species that have been identified as high priority species by Lower Hudson PRISM partners and other regional and state agency collaborators.
In 2022, ISF surveyors will be identifying and reporting on:
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Beech leaf disease (BLD) and its possible association with invasive jumping worms
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Spotted lanternfly and its primary host, tree of heaven
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Monthly rotating invasive plant featured as part of our EcoQuest Challenge survey program
This list of species will allow our staff and partners to rapidly respond to early detection reports and set the management agenda for 2023. The citizen science reporting structure will be similar to years past but less labor-intensive – it will feel a little more like an exploratory hike!
As an Invasives Strike Force Surveyor volunteer...
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You will be required to attend a species ID training to learn how to identify these 5 invasive species
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You will also attend a second training on how to collect and report data for the ISF including how to use two nature reporting apps- iMapInvasives and iNaturalist
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After completing training, you will be assigned to a trail section (~2 miles long).
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You then are free to explore your trail while identifying and mapping the invasive species you learned in training. This data collection can be completed within one outing or over several trips until you feel confident that you have identified all of the target species along your trail - but should be completed by the end of the summer.
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After you have completed your trail section, you can ask to have another section assigned to you. You can map as many trail sections during the season as you have time for.
We would love to have your help! See below for the required training sessions + questionnaire. We are so excited to begin!
INVASIVES STRIKE FORCE WORKSHOPS
Invasives Strike Force Training Resources and Webinars