Maximizing the use of Volunteers for the Removal of Arborized Invasive English Ivy Vine at Rock Creek Park
Nick Bartolomeo - Chief of Resource Management, Ana Chuquin - Biological Science Technician NPS, Rock Creek Park, John Maleri - Program Coordinator, Karen Zeiter - Program Manager Rock Creek Conservancy
Non-native invasive plan species are one of the biggest threats to the environmental health of parks. With more than 80 miles of boundary, ROCR is especially threatened by these species, which spread into the park from lands ape areas and through illegal dumping of plant materials. The park and its partners have undertaken different projects to remove invasive plants from the park utilizing volunteers as the main workforce. In 2012, ROCR and the Rock Creek Conservancy started the removal of barbarized English Ivy from mature trees within ROCR. During 2015, volunteers donated 1313 hours of work to ROCR and 2115 mature trees were saved. The results of this and other projects demonstrate that partnerships and the use of volunteer-based work contribute significantly to invasive plant species removal programs in parks.
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