Image result for New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) Invasive Species Management Team is seeking dedicated volunteers to assist in the execution of our mission: safeguarding and enhancing the intrinsic values of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in New York State Parks and Historic Sites through the prevention, control, and management of invasive species. Invasive species are non-native organisms that outcompete native species, threatening the ecosystem as a whole. We need volunteers to join us and help control the spread of invasive species through our Invasive Species Removal and Forest Health Programs.

Spring through Fall: Invasive Species Removal Volunteers will work alongside NYS OPRHP staff in performing priority invasive species removal projects through the use of manual techniques (i.e. cutting, digging, pulling). This is a great opportunity to learn about how natural resource professionals make decisions about where and how to concentrate efforts to make the most ecological impact. Volunteers will be trained on how to accurately identify multiple invasive species in the northeast, as well as on removal techniques and how to report infestations.

Fall through Spring: Forest Health volunteers will assist in surveying for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an aphid-like insect that feeds on and kills hemlock trees. Volunteers will be trained on the identification and phenology of HWA as well as the protocol for reporting its presence. Volunteers will then be assisted in selecting a site to survey on their own time.

To join the fight against invasive species, contact invasives@parks.ny.gov