Friday, August 14, 2015

Hudsonia offering Conservation of Urban Biodiversity Workshop


Hudsonia is offering a Conservation of Urban Biodiversity work shop at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, on Monday 24 August, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. A full  day with presentations, discussions, readings, other literature for viewing, and a short field trip on the reservation.
Flyer & Registration Form:
A workshop for consultants, biologists, students, university and high school teachers, environmental
professionals, NGO staff, regulators, policy-makers, preserve and park managers, restorationists, and others
involved with the study or conservation of urban biodiversity in the northeastern U.S.
The study of urban ecology and urban biodiversity is “coming of age” in the U.S. after many years of
European research. Nonetheless, the need for accurate scientific information and a broad-based approach to
conservation and management of species and habitats in cities has outstripped research in the discipline.
This workshop will integrate the background of urban ecology from American and European research with
new concepts of urban biodiversity developed in northeastern New Jersey, New York City, and other urban
environments.

Conservation, management, and restoration of biodiversity in urban (and industrial) areas are more than
trying to recreate environments of the countryside. Effective and sustainable practices must be based on
knowledge of the groups of organisms that do and do not persist or thrive in urban areas, and the role
that habitat quality, connectivity to non-urban areas, and the pool of available species play in the
phenomena of urban tolerance and urban sensitivity. Urban biotas respond to bedrock, soils, surface and
ground waters, microclimates, chemical pollutants, noise, built structures, and human activities. Cities lack
many sensitive species of plants, animals, and other organisms, but also are refuges or even high quality
environments for many common and rare species.

Participants in this workshop will:
LEARN
 which species of organisms occur in cities, how to identify their habitats, and why surveys of
multiple groups of organisms are needed to inform management decisions.
DISCUSS
 the results of studies of urban biodiversity in the Northeast.
ANALYZE
 what works and doesn’t work in restoration of urban and industrial areas.
PARTICIPATE
 in a short field trip to take a fresh view of urban habitats.

Instructors:
Erik Kiviat, PhD, field biologist and conservation scientist, is a co-founder (1981) and the
Executive Director of Hudsonia. Erik began studying urban biodiversity in New York . Erik is
coauthor of the Biodiversity Assessment Handbook for New York City
and the Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor,
as well as scientific papers and nontechnical articles on urban biota, rare species, environmental weeds, habitat management, and other topics.
Kristi MacDonald, PhD, will co-lead the workshop. Kristi conducted her PhD research on birds in
urban areas of northeastern New Jersey and has collaborated with Erik on broad-based biodiversity
research in the Meadowlands since 2000. Kristi grew up in Jersey City and went to graduate
school at Rutgers University after working in the Wildlife Conservation Society North America
program and Metropolitan Conservation Alliance. She has also conducted research on deer in the
Everglades and an endangered bird in the Seychelles Islands. Kristi and Erik are revising a book
manuscript on urban biodiversity and its conservation in the Meadowlands.
Participation is limited and by application only, to ensure that the workshop is offered to
conservationists, managers, regulators, policy-makers, and other professionals who can make the
best use of the information.

Fee: $30 per person, payable in advance (free for students – but application necessary!). Fee
includes lunch and course materials. Payment must be received by August 14th in order to hold
the place. This workshop is underwritten by an education grant from the Hudson River Improvement Fund.