Leaders and staff of conservation non-profits, federal and state agencies, and area towns to launch new collaboration
WHO:
- Libby Herland, Project Leader, Eastern Massachusetts Refuge Complex, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Nancy Nelson, Superintendent, Minute Man National Historical Park, National Park Service
- Debra Edelstein, Executive Director, New England Wild Flower Society
- Lynn Lyford, Executive Director, New England Forestry Foundation
- Laura Johnson, President, Mass Audubon
- Russ Cohen, River Advocate, Massachusetts Riverways Program
- Ron McAdow, Executive Director, Sudbury Valley Trustees
- Joseph W. Mullin, Chair, SUASCO Watershed Community Council
- Amanda Davis, Executive Director, Organization for the Assabet River
- Matthew R. Burne, Conservation Director, Walden Woods Project
- Barbara Volkle, President, Friends of the Assabet River NWR
- Sally Waters, Chair, Southborough Open Land Foundation
- William G. Constable, President, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust
- Gordon Shaw, Trustee and Treasurer, Concord Land Conservation Trust
- Tom A. Schultz, Chair, Carlisle Conservation Commission
- Alexander C. Easterday, Chair, Concord Natural Resources Commission
- Peter Von Mertens & Jim Meadors, Co-chairs, Lincoln Conservation Commission
- Edward Clancy, Chair, Marlborough Conservation Commission
- Fredric W. King, Chair, Maynard Conservation Commission
- Patricia R. Perry, Coordinator, Stow Conservation Commission
- John Drobinski, Selectman, Town of Sudbury
WHAT: Signing, Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
WHERE: Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 73 Weir Hill Road, Sudbury, Massachusetts
WHEN: MAY 1, 2009, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Welcome, Address, Signing
On May 1st, conservation colleagues from over 20 conservation organizations, agencies, and town commissions will gather to launch the SUASCO Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (SUASCO CISMA), an exciting new effort to manage invasive species in the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Watershed. Invasive species have been identified as one of the leading threats to native biodiversity in our region and their control is among the highest priorities for many conservation land managers. Through the SUASCO Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, participants will be able to establish new collaborations, draw upon the experience and expertise of their land management colleagues, and leverage resources for more effective invasive species control.
The official signing event will include:
• A welcome from our host, Libby Herland, Project Leader for the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex
• An address from Bill Brumback, Conservation Director at New England Wild Flower Society
• A Signing Ceremony
• Refreshments
Participating organizations have been meeting for over two years to lay the groundwork for this event. There is no deadline to join the CISMA, and other groups will be welcome to join in the coming months.
Formation of the SUASCO CISMA has been generously supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Sudbury Foundation, and the Concord, Assabet, & Sudbury Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council.
