The content of this course is tailored to the needs of NRCS, SWCD, Cooperative Extension, and state department of agriculture employees as well as crop consultants, natural resource specialists, non-governmental conservation organization staff, and producers of bee-pollinated crops.
The Xerces Society
(855) 232-6639 ext. 102
Thanks to Western SARE for making this course affordable to the public.
$45 registration fee per person
$30 discounted registration for NRCS personnel and Tilth Producers of Washington members
Lunch is not included. Please plan on bringing a sack lunch with you to the course.
Canceled registrations can be refunded until December 2nd, 2011.
This Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course is made possible with the support of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (WSARE), and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additional support for this training is provided by the following: CS Fund, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, Dudley Foundation, Turner Foundation, Whole Systems Foundation, and Xerces Society members.
Eric Mader, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Mount Vernon, Washington
December 9, 2011
9:00 am - 4:00 pm PST
Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they provide is necessary for the reproduction of nearly 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants and is fundamental to agriculture and natural ecosystems. More than two-thirds of the world’s crop species are dependent on pollination, with an annual estimated value of $18 to $27 billion in the United States alone. Beyond agriculture, pollinators are keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems, since their activities are ultimately responsible for the seeds and fruits that feed everything from songbirds to black bears. Conservation of pollinating insects is critically important to preserving both wider biodiversity as well as agriculture.
In many places, however, this essential service is at risk. In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences released the report Status of Pollinators in North America, which called attention to the decline of pollinators. The report urged agencies and organizations to increase awareness and protect pollinator habitat. The Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course was developed to address this need. The course will include both classroom and field training components.
Introductory topics include the principles of pollinator biology, the economics of insect pollination, basic bee field identification, and evaluating pollinator habitat. Advanced modules will cover land management practices for pollinator protection, pollinator habitat restoration, incorporating pollinator conservation into federal conservation programs, selection of plants for pollinator enhancement sites, management of natural landscapes, and financial and technical resources to support these efforts. Throughout the short course these training modules are illustrated by case studies of pollinator conservation efforts across the country.
Registrants will receive the Xerces Society’s Pollinator Conservation Toolkit that includes Xerces’ latest book, Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies, as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and Extension publications.
Thanks to Western Sustainable Research and Education program for making this course affordable to the public. Registration is $45 per person. Discounted registration is available for NRCS personnel and Tilth Producers of Washington members at $30 per person.
The Xerces Society is offering similar Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Courses across the country. Visit our online events page to view up-to-date short course information. If you would like to receive announcements about upcoming short courses, please email email@example.com. Be sure to include the following information: name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and the state(s) for which you would like to receive Short Course announcements.
SHORT COURSE TRAINING SKILLS AND OBJECTIVES
Module 1 (9:00 am - 10:00 am) Introduction
Module 2 (10:00 am - 10:45 am) Basic Bee and Butterfly Biology
Break (10:45 am - 11:00 am)
Module 3 (11:00 am - 11:45 am) Bee-Friendly Farming
Module 4 (11:45 am - 12:30 pm) Habitat Restoration
Lunch (12:30 pm - 1:15 pm)
Module 5 (1:15 pm - 2:45 pm) Open Laboratory
Module 6 (2:45 pm - 3:15 pm) Current Farm Bill Provisions
Module 7 (3:15 pm - 3:30 pm) Additional Resources
Module 8 (3:30 pm - 4:00 pm) Wrap Up
Eric Mader is the Xerces Society's Assistant Pollinator Program Director. In this role he works to raise awareness of native pollinator conservation techniques among growers and government agencies. His previous work includes commercial beekeeping and crop consulting for the native seed industry where he provided weekly insect and disease scouting on hundreds of plant species grown for prairie restoration efforts. He is an Assistant Extension Professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Entomology, and has authored several books and government management plans for native pollinators. He most recently co-authored Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies and Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationists.
Representatives from Fourth Corner Nursery will provide an overview of local native plants for pollinator habitat restoration.
ABOUT THE XERCES SOCIETY
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. The Society's Pollinator Conservation Program was launched in 1996, and works with leading native pollinator ecologists to translate the latest research findings into on-the-ground conservation. More information about the Xerces Society is available at www.xerces.org