Weed busters - Invasive plant conference: educating professionals and volunteers
On the 9th of August 2006, an invasive plant conference was organized in New Jersey (USA) to train both professionals and volunteers for the management of invasive alien plants. Almost 150 professionals and volunteers attended this event, including nursery and landscape professionals, natural resource specialists, managers of parks, preserves and conservation districts, invasive plant management and restoration specialists, extension agents and environmental educators, public and botanic garden managers and supervisors, researchers, students and gardeners, garden and outdoor writers, golf course and recreational land managers, and home gardeners/garden club members. After a general introduction about invasive plant control, practical talks were given on how to educate, encourage and train volunteers, and how to manage invaded sites. The participants also experienced practical management methods on whether to use mechanical or chemical control on sites invaded by species such as Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae), Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae), Celastrus orbiculatus (Celastraceae), Polygonum perfoliatum (Polygonaceae), Reynoutria japonica (Polygonaceae), or Rubus phoenicolasius (Rosaceae). Invasive plant identification was also emphasized.
Sources
Weed Busters - Invasive plant conference in New Jersey, US, 2006-08-09