The content of this course is tailored to the needs of NRCS, SWCD, Cooperative Extension, and state department of agriculture employees, as well as crop consultants, natural resource specialists, non-governmental conservation organization staff, and producers of bee-pollinated crops.
Registration is $45 per person. Course registration includes lunch and a copy of Attracting Native Pollinators. After May 23, registration is $50 per person.
Canceled registrations can be refunded until May 28, 2014.
Clemson University Sandhill Research & Education Center Lake House
900 Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
The Xerces Society provides reasonable accommodations for special events with adequate notice. To request accommodation for events, please complete contact shortcourses@xerces.org by Friday, May 20th, 2014.
The USDA and the Xerces Society are equal-opportunity providers and employers.
This Pollinator Conservation Short Course is made possible with the support of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additional support for this training is provided by the following: Ceres Foundation, CS Fund, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, Endangered Species Chocolate, Turner Foundation, Whole Foods Market and its vendors, and Xerces Society members.
This workshop is co-sponsored by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District through Organic Richland, a cooperative program with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in South Carolina. Special thank you to South Carolina NRCS, Richland Soil and Water Conservation District, and Clemson Cooperative Extension for their tremendous support for this course and pollinators. Special thanks to Ernst Conservation Seed and Roundstone Seed for donating seeds for a pollinator planting, to Hi Cotton Greenhouses for growing out seed, and to Clemson University's Cooperative Extension for providing space to showcase pollinator plants.
Great purple hairstreak on goldenrod by Dave Kastner.
Pollinator Conservation Short Course
Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center Lake House
Columbia, South Carolina
June 4, 2014
9:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT
Learn how to attract native pollinators to fields, farms, and orchards!
This course is now full. Please email shortcourses@xerces.org to be added to the waitlist.
In many places, however, this essential service is at risk. In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences released the report Status of Pollinators in North America, which called attention to the decline of pollinators. The report urged agencies and organizations to increase awareness and protect pollinator habitat. The Pollinator Conservation Short Course was developed to address this need.
Introductory topics include the principles of pollinator biology, the economics of insect pollination, basic bee field identification, and evaluating pollinator habitat. Advanced modules will cover land management practices for pollinator protection, pollinator habitat restoration, incorporating pollinator conservation into federal conservation programs, selection of plants for pollinator enhancement sites, management of natural landscapes, and financial and technical resources to support these efforts. Throughout the short course these training modules are illustrated by case studies of pollinator conservation efforts across the country.
Registrants will receive the Xerces Society's Pollinator Conservation Toolkit which includes Xerces' latest book, Attracting Native Pollinators. Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies, as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications.
The Xerces Society is offering similar Pollinator Conservation Short Courses across the country. Visit our online events page to view up-to-date short course information. If you would like to receive announcements about upcoming short courses, please email shortcourses@xerces.org. Be sure to include the following information: name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and the state(s) for which you would like to receive announcements.
*Continuing Education Credit Available*
Certified Crop Adviser (5 CEUs)
Society of American Foresters (5 CFE credits)
The Wildlife Society (5.5 contact hours)
SHORT COURSE TRAINING SKILLS AND OBJECTIVES
COURSE AGENDA
Welcome from USDA NRCS
Module 1 Introduction - The Importance of Pollinator Conservation
Module 2 Basic Bee & Other Beneficial Insect Biology
Module 3 Pollinator Planting
Module 4 Bee-Friendly Farming
Module 5 Habitat Restoration
Module 6 Current Farm Bill Provisions Supporting Pollinators
Module 7 Additional Resources
Module 8 Wrap Up
INSTRUCTORS
Nancy Lee Adamson, PhD – Pollinator Conservation Specialist - East Region
Nancy is the Pollinator Conservation Specialist - East Region for the Xerces Society and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service East National Technology Support Center (ENTSC). She supports pollinator conservation care of the ENTSC in Greensboro, North Carolina. She studied bees important for crop pollination (primarily native bees) and meadow restoration in the mid-Atlantic, ran the horticulture and Master Gardener programs for Frederick County, Maryland’s Cooperative Extension, and has long been involved in inventorying, collecting seed, and propagating native plants for habitat restoration. As Education Coordinator and Nursery Manager at Adkins Arboretum on the eastern shore of Maryland, she started a local ecotype propagation program following work with Bloomin’ Natives (now Chesapeake Natives). A former Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, she also worked as an intern with Cultural Survival in Petén, Guatemala.
Sudie Daves Thomas – Wildlife Biologist, SC Natural Resources Conservation Service
Sudie provides technical support and training for SC NRCS staff and clients. She works with issues and projects involving natural community restoration, wildlife habitat improvement and management, plant identification, rare and listed species, as well as wetland restoration on private lands. In addition, she collaborates with many partner groups including the SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, the SC Native Plant Society, and the SC Partners for the Restoration of Native Plant Communities on outreach and education about the importance of natural community restoration and preservation; as well as on specific research and habitat management projects. Past and present job duties include natural resource inventories, data collection and research, and formulation and implementation of habitat management plans. Sudie is currently working with NRCS staff and clients on specific projects aiming to establish and improve pollinator habitat with native plant species.
ABOUT THE XERCES SOCIETY
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. The Society's Pollinator Conservation Program was launched in 1996, and works with leading native pollinator ecologists to translate the latest research findings into on-the-ground conservation. More information about the Xerces Society is available at www.xerces.org.