Pollinator Conservation Short Course

Lamar, Colorado
Lamar County Fairgrounds (Home Economics Building)
Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
9:00 am - 4:30 pm MTN

This full day workshop will focus on concepts around protecting and enhancing populations of pollinators, especially bees, in agricultural landscapes. The course will provide an overview of bee natural history and identify practices such as protecting and creating habitat, modified horticultural practices, and advice on how to manage pests while protecting pollinators. In addition to receiving the latest cutting edge scientific findings, course participants will be guided on a field tour to practice identifying bees and their habitat.

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' book, Attracting Native Pollinators. as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications.

The Xerces Society is offering similar Pollinator Conservation Planning 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 pollinators@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.

SHORT COURSE TRAINING SKILLS AND OBJECTIVES

• Ability to identify ways of increasing and enhancing pollinator diversity on the land
• Knowledge of the current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on pollinators
• Ability to identify bees and distinguish them from other insects
• Knowledge of the economics of insect-pollinated crops, and the effects of pollinator decline
• Knowledge of the current Farm Bill pollinator conservation provisions and how to implement those provisions through USDA programs such as WHIP, EQIP, CSP, and CRP
• Ability to assess pollinator habitat and to identify habitat deficiencies
• Ability to make recommendations to farmers and land managers that conserve pollinators (including subjects such as roadside management, tillage, pesticide use, burning, grazing, and cover cropping)
• Ability to design and implement habitat improvements, such as native plant restoration and nest site enhancements
• Ability to incorporate pollinators into land-management or policy decisions

COURSE AGENDA

Module 1 Introduction - The Importance of Pollinator Conservation

• Pollination economics and the role of bees in commercial crop production; value of diversifying pollination strategies
• Pollination biology
• Colony Collapse Disorder and honey bee industry trends

Module 2 Basic Bee and Butterfly Biology

• Bee & butterfly identification
• Identifying pollinator nest sites

Module 3 Bee-Friendly Farming

• The value of natural habitat & bee friendly plantings
• Mitigating pesticide damage
• Protecting neest sites

Break 

Module 4 Habitat Restoration

• Habitat design considerations
• Plant selection and sources
• Site preparation and planting techniques for woody and herbaceous plants
• Long-term habitat management

Lunch

• A pizza lunch will be provided. Please plan on bringing a sack lunch with you to the course, if you prefer. 

Module 5 Open Laboratory (Weather permitting)

• Field observation of pollinators and plants, native plant selectio, and land-use discussion
• Using the Pollinator Habitat Assesment Form and Guide

Module 6 Accessing Technical and Financial Support

• USDA programs and practices for pollinator conservation

Module 7 Additional Resources

Module 8 Wrap Up

• Questions
• Evaluations
• Raffle

  INSTRUCTORS

Jennifer Hopwood - Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society

GUEST SPEAKER

Patty Knupp - Area Biologist for Southeastern Colorado for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

As Area Biologist Patty provides technical assistance to 16 NRCS field offices on NEPA, Wetland Conservation Compliance, species conservation and habitat management.  She also works with numerous partners applying landscape level conservation on the ground.  Patty has a B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Management.  Her background includes 13 years’ experience as a state biologist with the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries working in early successional habitats on private lands. She has worked with NRCS for 10 years; five as a contract Private Lands Wildlife Biologist and five as a Federal employee working on habitat restoration through the Farm Bill.

Chanda Garcia - State Biologist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado

As the NRCS Colorado State Biologist, Chandra provides technical expertise and leadership state-wide on species conservation and habitat management on private lands.  Her background includes 13 years of providing professional level experience on wildlife habitat ecology and management, wetland restoration and conservation, and environmental compliance.

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.