#EcosystemManagement

[bettreworld]

Measuring ecosystem performance for business resilience | Nature Is e105...

[arocollegeau]

People with this diploma contribute to the preservation and maintenance of wildlife and their habitat in the natural ecosystem, parks and reserves. For #DiplomaOfConservationAnd #EcosystemManagement, visit: https://aro.edu.au/course/ahc50422-diploma-of-horticulture-management/

[yuvaruralassociation]

Climate Change and bio-diversity| Yuva Rural Association (YRA)

Major environmental challenges facing society include climate change, hazardous substances and loss of biodiversity. YRA facilitates the development of knowledge and technology for restructuring towards sustainability, climate change adaptation & mitigation, environment-friendly energy and long-term preservation of well-functioning ecosystems.

[supedium]

Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation: Understanding and Enhancing Nature's Capacity to Bounce Back

https://supedium.com/ecosystem-and-environment/ecosystem-resilience-and-adaptation-understanding-and-enhancing-natures-capacity-to-bounce-back/ #adaptation #biodiversity #Climatechange #EcosystemManagement #Resilience #Restoration Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation: Understanding and Enhancing Nature's Capacity to Bounce Back https://supedium.com/ecosystem-and-environment/ecosystem-resilience-and-adaptation-understanding-and-enhancing-natures-capacity-to-bounce-back/

[lovelypol]

Streamlining Partner Management with Ecosystem Platforms

Partner Ecosystem Platform Software facilitates collaboration and relationship management within business ecosystems, enabling organizations to efficiently engage with partners, suppliers, and customers.

This software streamlines partner onboarding, communication, and joint project management, fostering innovation and driving mutual growth. By providing a centralized hub for sharing resources, knowledge, and data, it enhances transparency and alignment across diverse stakeholders. Partner Ecosystem Platform Software supports the development of strategic partnerships, enabling organizations to leverage complementary strengths and expand market reach. It also includes features for performance tracking, incentive management, and analytics, empowering businesses to optimize partner relationships and drive measurable outcomes. As digital ecosystems continue to evolve, this software plays a crucial role in orchestrating seamless collaboration and driving collective value creation across interconnected networks.

#PartnerEcosystem #EcosystemSoftware #BusinessCollaboration #DigitalTransformation #PartnershipManagement #InnovationHub #CollaborativeEconomy #StrategicPartnerships #EcosystemManagement #BusinessGrowth #DigitalPlatforms #CollaborationTools #JointProjectManagement #PerformanceTracking #DataAnalytics #MutualGrowth #ValueCreation #BusinessAgility #PartnerOnboarding #EcosystemIntegration

[philaparkandrec]

Forest Restoration at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center

The Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) Ecosystem Management team has recently awarded a major forest restoration project to All Seasons Landscaping to perform restoration work throughout the forested areas surrounding the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center. The project area totals approximately 30 acres and includes three distinct project sites, identified as Lansdowne Glen (13 acres), Montgomery Creek (11 acres) and Michaux Grove (6 acres).  

Invasive Norway maple trees

These forests are badly degraded, with a canopy that is dominated by non-native trees and overwhelmed by vines, and an understory devoid of tree seedlings and overrun with invasive shrubs. These damaged forest communities are expected to continue to deteriorate in the absence of specific management practices designed to reverse this trend. The proposed project is focused on:  

removing the overwhelming invasive tree and shrub species (winter 2017/18);

erecting deer fencing surrounding each project site to eliminate browse damage (spring 2018);

and replanting to reestablish a native forest plant community (fall 2019).

PPR felt that it was important to restore these areas as they are adjacent to the Horticulture Center and historic grounds and should represent a healthy, thriving ecosystem. You should expect to see major changes within these forests beginning in mid-December 2017. 

[plutoniansixthhouser]

the vascular system of a basswood cutting🌱 #flemingcollege #ecosystemmanagement

[bettreworld]

Measuring ecosystem performance for business resilience | Nature Is e105...

[arocollegeau]

🌿 Unlock Your Passion for the Environment with Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management! 🌎

Are you passionate about preserving our planet? Dream of making a significant impact on our ecosystems? 🌱 It's time to turn your green dreams into reality!

Introducing the Certificate III in Conservation and Ecosystem Management - your first step towards a fulfilling career in environmental conservation. 📚

What Will You Learn?

✅ Ecosystem Conservation - Techniques to protect, restore, and manage ecosystems. ✅ Wildlife Management - Skills to support and manage wildlife populations sustainably. ✅ Plant Identification - Understanding diverse plant species and their roles in ecosystems. ✅ Sustainable Practices - Implementing eco-friendly strategies for conservation efforts.

Why Choose This Course?

✅ Hands-On Experience - Engage in real-world conservation projects. ✅ Expert Instructors - Learn from seasoned professionals in the field. ✅ Career Opportunities - Open doors to roles in wildlife parks, conservation areas, and environmental agencies.

🌟 Whether you're aiming to kickstart your career or looking to contribute to conservation efforts, this course is your gateway to making a difference. Join a community of like-minded individuals, learn from the best, and become a steward of the earth.

👉 Enroll Now! Spaces are limited. Secure your spot today and take the first step towards a greener future.

📲 For more information, visit our website or contact us at https://aro.edu.au/contact-us.

[supedium]

The Algal Nitrogen Cycle: Implications for Ecosystems

https://supedium.com/phycology/the-algal-nitrogen-cycle-implications-for-ecosystems/ #AlgalNitrogenCycle #EcosystemManagement #Eutrophication #HarmfulAlgalBlooms #NitrogenAssimilation #NutrientDynamics The Algal Nitrogen Cycle: Implications for Ecosystems https://supedium.com/phycology/the-algal-nitrogen-cycle-implications-for-ecosystems/

[arocollegeau]

Diploma Of Conservation And Eco System Management

Individuals with this qualification perform a range of conservation and ecosystem management activities including, site restoration, rehabilitation and renewal. For #DiplomaOfConservationAnd #EcoSystemManagement, visit: https://aro.edu.au/

[philaparkandrec]

Horticulture Center Forest Restoration Project

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) has selected the forests surrounding the Horticulture Center, one of the jewels of the Philadelphia park system, as the focal point for a major restoration effort. The Horticulture Center facility and grounds, which include an arboretum, are historic and provide the setting for horticultural excellence in our park system. The facility features a conference center, indoor gardens and greenhouses, and is a destination for ceremonies, including weddings, corporate events, and holiday celebrations.

Unfortunately, the native forests surrounding the site are being lost. The forest canopy is dominated by a large number of invasive tree species, and portions of the canopy are over-run by invasive woody vines, which are tearing the forest apart. The understory is dominated by a limited number of non-native species of saplings and shrubs, and the native herbaceous layer (wildflowers, ferns and grasses) has disappeared. This forest is on a trajectory to become dominated by a limited number of invasive trees, shrubs, and vines, with little aesthetic appeal, diminished wildlife habitat and minimal diversity. Without intervention, the future forest will provide an unfortunate example of neglect and lost potential.

The Horticulture Center Forest Restoration and Protection Project includes three distinct project areas, identified as Lansdowne Glen (12.8 acres); Montgomery Creek (10.7 acres), and Michaux Grove (5.9 acres), totaling approximately 29.4  acres in size. The project sites each abut the Horticulture Center and grounds. The current project will demonstrate to our many visitors that carefully planned restoration can transform a degraded forest into a diverse and functional ecosystem.  

Why are our forests dying? Urban forests are subject to a wide range of stressors that do not commonly afflict non-urban or "wildland" forests. The cumulative effect of these stresses is too slow to be observed but over time, the impacts become obvious. The native trees and shrubs are replaced by non-natives, rampant woody vines tear off limbs and encroach into the canopy, regeneration (i.e., seedlings and saplings) disappears, diversity diminishes, and eventually, the forest is lost.

One of the most significant stressors, surprisingly, is an over-population of white-tailed deer.  Deer are a native animal; however, the abnormally high population that roams our park system takes a huge toll on the native forest. These herbivores selectively and continuously consume almost every native tree or shrub seedling growing within the forest floor. The "carrying capacity," or ability of our native forest to provide sufficient food for the deer herd, has been overwhelmed. In addition, these same deer also prefer to consume the native plants rather than the non-native or invasive plant species, which have become increasingly common throughout Philadelphia's forests. This is because that over the millennia, our native deer co-evolved with our native plants and as a result find the native plants far more palatable and nutritious than the non-natives. In addition to herbivory by deer, our forests have become overrun with non-native plants. The Philadelphia region has a high diversity and abundance of invasive plants due to our rich history of botanical introductions and horticultural plant promotion. These two factors– deer browse and invasive plants– will, over time, result in the replacement of our native forest with a degraded landscape dominated by a few species of non-native trees, shrubs, and vines.

Unlike most wildland forests, urban forests must be maintained and stewarded if they are to survive.

Project overview

The goal of this forest restoration project is focused on the removal of non-native species of plants (trees, shrubs, and vines) using traditional forestry equipment in order to prepare the sites for planting and to promote the regeneration and establishment of native plants.  

Following the removal of the undesirable vegetation, each of the sites will receive targeted herbicide treatment and then be protected with eight-foot (8') height deer exclusion fencing. Deer fencing is visually unobtrusive, and the fence will include multiple pedestrian gates so as not to impede access by park users. A new walking trail for education and passive recreation will be constructed within the Lansdowne Glen project area.

While performing clearing, the contractor will be "topping" a number of the undesirable trees that are being removed as part of this project. Standing dead trees are referred to as "snags," which provide valuable wildlife nesting and feeding opportunities. The contractors must also leave large logs or "habitat logs" laying onsite. These provide habitat and help return nutrients back to the soil as they decay.

In fall 2019, PPR will plant the site with thousands of native trees and shrubs. Some of these plants will be purchased from local native plant nurseries; however, many will be grown from locally-sourced seed at PPR’s Greenland Nursery (off of Ford Rd. near the Organic Recycling Center).

The project should result in the restoration to a regionally native forest along with a significant increase in plant diversity. Plant diversity is closely correlated with wildlife diversity, so the project should provide improved nesting and breeding opportunities for resident and migratory wildlife. This effort will reset the trajectory of this urban forest and provide an example of ecological restoration that can be used to teach students and practitioners alike.

[philaparkandrec]

Sustainable Wood Milling

Photo Credit: Lori Hayes

PPR Ecosystem Management staff, along with PPR Operations staff and Arborists, recently completed milling approximately 4,000 board feet of hardwood lumber. The lumber was milled out of trees from the Philadelphia park system, or as we refer to it, "Neighborhood Wood." Species milled included high quality white ash, red oak, tulip poplar, black locust, black walnut and one massive paulownia log, from McMichael Park. This effort produced wood for the following applications:

16-foot guardrails (5"X 9") for driveway into Historic RittenhouseTown

Guardrails and posts for Valley Green Inn parking lot (12 each)

Stringers, posts, handrails and treads for the Trolley Loop trail construction

All wood for at least five (5) storage cubbies for PowerCorps to construct at five recreation centers (120 boards @ 10' length and 12" width)

Garden bed borders for Farm Philly (100 boards @ 12' length and 12" width)

Live edge boards for sale by Philadelphia Salvage

Custom cuts for Friends of Wissahickon for various projects and fundraisers

Hardwood lumber for Furnishing A Future, an organization that is training homeless veterans in basic carpentry skills 

This 2.5-day effort resulted in a fantastic amount of production of a high quality product, and also reduced wear and tear on equipment at the Recycling Center, as these logs became boards rather than wood chips. Special thanks to the crew at the PPR Recycling Center (George, Ray and Gerry) who provide skilled equipment operation, PowerCorps PHL who provided labor, and to the Fairmount Park Conservancy, who provided funding. A GREAT team effort!

[philaparkandrec]

Summer interns tackle a big problem

From May to mid-August, four intrepid seasonal interns worked steadily to combat an alien pest that is ravaging park forests. The diminutive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was officially documented in Philadelphia in 2016. Our native ash trees have no resistance to this insect, so they are rapidly succumbing to the voracious feeding by the beetle’s larvae all over the city. Over the next several years, all 200,000+ of the City’s ash trees are likely to be killed by this pest. 

The only trees that are expected to survive are those that are chemically treated to resist the EAB. In 2015 and 2016, the first round of treatments was done on ash trees that would become hazards if they die— large trees near roads, parking lots, buildings— and on excellent specimens to preserve. Curtis Helm, then at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, developed the program to identify trees to treat and implement treatments.

Since treatments are effective for only 2-3 years, 2018 was the next “window” for re-treating the previously treated trees. This is where the seasonal interns come in. In May, Parks & Rec hired Christopher LeClair, Alec Miller, William Sheirer, and Kendall Topping. Their job was to inject an insecticide called Arbormectin into ash trees to protect them against EAB.

After a week of training, the four of them divided into two teams, and they were off and running. The following is a partial list of obstacles they overcame in the course of their work:

Poison ivy (multiple infections)

Deer ticks (2 cases of Lyme disease)

Stinging insects, including yellow jackets (multiple) and saddleback caterpillar (1)

Equipment malfunctions (multiple)

Data errors (several)

Lacerations (1)

Car accidents (1) and mechanical problems (3)

Pollen allergies (2, for many days) 

Steamy work conditions (many days + 1 case of heat exhaustion)

The interns also fielded many questions from curious park users, such as, “Are you killing that tree?” Many trees had poison ivy vines that needed to be cleared before treatments could be done. On August 20, they emerged from the woods victorious. 1,379 ash trees were treated this summer, ranging in size from 7 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) to 60 inches DBH. The average diameter of the treated trees was about 26 inches, so many large trees were saved. The teams injected 200 quarts of Arbormectin in total.

Though we will continue to lose many ash trees, these treatments will ensure that at least some populations of white and green ash remain in our parks. Hopefully, some will serve as seed sources for new trees in the future. Since many of the treated trees would be considered hazards if they died, the treatments helped prevent hazards and/or the cost of removing them.

Congratulations to the EAB interns for a job well done!

[philaparkandrec]

Invasive Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Philadelphia

Written by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry and Ecosystem Management Project Manager Curtis Helm

(“Emerald Ash Borer 3" by U.S. Department of Agriculture is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

Tests have confirmed that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive insect pest that has destroyed more than 100 million ash trees in North America since it first appeared in Detroit in 2002, has officially arrived in Philadelphia.

In May, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR)’s Urban Forestry and Ecosystem Management Division obtained EAB pheromone traps from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry and installed them at locations along Cobbs Creek, Pennypack Creek, and Tacony Creek. Several suspicious insects were collected by PPR staff from two traps along the Pennypack in mid-June. These insects were mailed to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture entomologists for identification and were confirmed to be EAB.

(PPR Urban Forestry and Ecosystem Management interns Kristen Sommers [left] and Jessica Sexton [right] examine an EAB trap.)

We can no longer hope that this insect pest will have the good sense to avoid our fair city. It has arrived and is here until the damage has been done. We are likely to lose the majority of the ash trees in our parks, at our homes, and along our streets in the next 5-10 years. Over 200,000 of Philadelphia's 3.1 million trees are ashes.

Individual ash trees can be treated and protected from this pest; or, if the tree is already in poor health or otherwise compromised, it should be removed. Keep in mind that removing a living tree is less expensive, and much safer for your arborist, than removing a dead tree. Now is the time to act, and remember to always plant a new tree when you remove a tree. 

Some great replacement species for our area include sugar maple, red oak, willow oak, southern red oak, swamp white oak, black gum, sweet gum, sourwood, American beech, American linden (basswood), hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree, and white pine.

For more information about EAB and Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat this pest, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.