Wisconsin School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring: Engaging Teachers and Students

1. Wisconsin School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring: Engaging Teachers and Students Jeremy Solin Wisconsin School Forest Coordinator October 21, 2005 Citizen-based Monitoring Conference

2. Wisconsin School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring • Wisconsin School Forest Program • Garlic Mustard Monitoring Project • Future SF Monitoring Projects

3. School Forest History • School & Community Forest Law – 1927 • 1st School Forests at Laona, Wabeno and Crandon • Goals • Reforestation • Income

4. School Forest Opportunities • Meet state education standards • Integrate environmental education into curriculum • Demonstrate sustainable natural resources management • Strengthen school/community relationships • Provide income for schools/school forests

5. School Forests Today • ~ 345 School Forests • 190 different public school districts (45%) • 66 of 72 counties • Range of sizes (>24,000 acres in total) • Range of utilization (daily – never)

6. Wisconsin School Forest Program • Wisconsin School Forest Ed. Specialist • LEAF - The Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program • Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education and the WDNR - Forestry

7. School Forest Garlic Mustard Monitoring • Wisconsin NatureMapping “Special Project” • Teacher Training • Teacher and Student Use • Data • Continuation

8. Wisconsin NatureMapping Special Project

9. Teacher Training • May 7, 2005 • 20 Teachers, 17 Districts • Garlic Mustard natural history and control • Wisconsin NatureMapping • GPS • Data collection and submission

10. Teacher and Student Use • 16 sites surveyed • Students involved in most of the surveys • At least 4 teachers immediately used the materials in their classroom • All survey respondents (10) expected to use the project in their classroom

11. Garlic Mustard Data Area Surveyed • 16 sites • average area of site = 46 acres • average area surveyed = 26 acres

12. Garlic Mustard Data Garlic Mustard Presence: • 9 sites with garlic mustard • 8 in counties with documented presence • 1 in Waushara County (GM not previously documented) • 1 site in a pine plantation • intermediate density • average area = 3 acres

13. Garlic Mustard Data Control: • Pulling was implemented at 7 sites • average area treated = 1.6 acres

14. Garlic Mustard Data Other Invasives Recorded: • Other invasives at 8 sites • Buckthorn and honeysuckle most common • Also recorded: black locust, reed canary grass, Dame’s rocket, wild parsnip, multi-floral rose, and purple loosestrife

15. Garlic Mustard Monitoring Continuation • Wisconsin NatureMapping website • Future recruitment and training of teachers • Integration with other monitoring projects

16. Future SF Monitoring Efforts • School Forest Monitoring Network • Tree species, diameter, and height (volume, growth rates) • Tree health • Understory diversity • Invertebrates • Tree regeneration • Salamanders (board monitoring) • Invasives • Downed woody debris