Forest Invasives

For K through 12 Educators

July 16-18, 2008 at Brevard College

Forest Invasives will examine invasive species of plants, animals, and fungi that have affected the forests of the Southern Appalachians and altered the composition of native trees and other organisms. The most recent invader has been the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an aphid-like insect that attacks Hemlock trees, but several other adelgids have also affected forest systems. These tiny animals cause major change. Everyone recognizes that Kudzu is an invasive plant, but there are several other plants that are even more damaging to forest ecosystems. For example, Japanese Stilt Grass can invade shady, undisturbed forests, and Multiflora Rose can completely overgrow small streams and absorb most of their surface water. Fungal diseases have historically been problematic in the moist forests of the Southern Appalachians, with Chestnut Blight a major source of forest change. Now we have Dogwood Anthracnose and other introduced fungi that will further alter our native forests. This workshop will teach participants to identify invasive species and describe ways to control them.

The Forest Invasives workshop is available for 1.5 CEU’s based on 15 contact hours, and available for Criteria II credit in the North Carolina Environmental Educators (NCEE) certification program.