2014 Symposium | Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) 2014 Invasive Plant Symposium was held on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at the Student Union, University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. The theme of the symposium was: Invasive Plants 2014: Where Are We Now? The 7th biennial conference featured national, regional, and local experts as well as citizen volunteers sharing practical solutions for managing invasive plants, promoting non-invasive plants and improving wildlife habitat. Well-known Keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Reichard, Professor and Director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens presented “Five-year Target: A down-to-earth vision bridging policy, research and management”. Sessions included topics about:

Tips for successful invasive plant management projects

Alternative plants for improving gardens and other areas as wildlife habitat

Priorities and partnering for invasive plant management

Aquatic invasive plant updates

Early Detection – curbing the spread

Species-specific invasive plant identification, management and alternative plants

Read the Storrs-Mansfield Patch Article on the Symposium.

Read Senator Chapin’s remarks.

The Leslie J. Mehrhoff Award was presented to Kathleen Nelson this year.
Dave Gumbart (The Nature Conservancy) delivers the closing remarks.
Peter Picone (DEEP) delivers a talk titled, "Enhancing Habitat for Wildlife on Small and Large Scales: Native Plants and Wildlife are Inextricably Linked.
A panel of experts discuss the topic "Priorities and Partnering for Invasive Plant Management.
Afternoon refreshments are served.
Greg Bugbee (CT Agricultural Experiment Station) delivers a talk entitled, "Invasive Aquatic Plants - The State of the State".
Jessica Lubell (University of Connecticut) delivers a talk entitled, "New Native Shrubs to Replace Tough Invasives".
Lori Benoit (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) delivers a talk entitled, "Herbicide Resistance in Hydrilla and Other Aquatic Plants".
A panel of experts discuss tree-of-heaven (an invasive plant) during the session titled, "Identification, Management and Alternative Plants".
Attendees discuss invasive plant topics with the exhibitors.
Guests grab their lunch and view posters during the lunch break.
Sarah Reichard (University of Washington) delivers the keynote address entitled, "Five-Year Target: a down-to-earth vision bridging policy, research and management".
Rose Hiskes (CT Agricultural Experiment Station) answers questions about the invasive plant specimens on display.
Poster presentations are viewed by attendees.